Turkey
Upper-middle income
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *8/10This is a composite ‘obesity risk’ score (out of 10, the highest risk) based on obesity prevalence, rate of increase, likelihood of meeting the 2025 target, treatment indicator and childhood stunting levels.Childhood obesity risk *8/11This is a ‘risk score’ for each country’s likelihood of having or acquiring a major childhood obesity problem during the 2020s, taking account of current prevalence levels and risk for future obesity (based on stunting among infants, maternal obesity, maternal smoking, and breastfeeding rates).
Report cards
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Population breakdowns
Drivers
Insufficient activity
Soft drink consumption
Fruit consumption
Vegetable consumption
Processed meat consumption
Grains consumption
Depression
Anxiety
Roots of obesity »
Like all chronic diseases, the root causes/drivers of obesity are complex. Select here to view 'other' root causes/drivers.Breastfeeding
Unaffordable diet
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2023
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 6017 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Household Health Survey – Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors in Turkey 2023 (STEPS). Editors: Mehmet Enes Gökler, Hamit Harun Bağcı, Kanuni Keklik, Toker Erguder, İlayda. Third Ministry of Health, Ankara, 2025. |
| Notes: | STEPS 2023 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2022
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 22742 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Türkiye Health Survey 2022 |
| Notes: | Survey includes some modules proposed by European Statistical Office (Eurostat). |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2019
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2018-2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 6362 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies. (2019). 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey. Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies, T.R. Presidency of Turkey Directorate of Strategy and Budget and TÜBÄ°TAK, Ankara, Turkey http://www.hips.hacettepe.edu.tr/eng/tdhs2018/TDHS_2018_main_report.pdf (Last accessed 18.05.21) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 6053 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Household Health Survey – Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors in Turkey 2017 (STEPS). Üner S, Balcılar M, Ergüder T editors. World Health Organization Country Office in Turkey, Ankara, 2018. |
| Notes: | STEPS 2017 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2016
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Turkish Health Survey 2019 Report. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Turkey-Health-Survey-2019-33661 (Accessed 24.04.2023) |
| Notes: | The survey includes modules proposed by European Statistical Office (Eurostat). The 2019 report includes trend data for 2008-2019. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2014
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | 2014 Eurostat Database:http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1e&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2012
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Turkish Health Survey 2019 Report. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Turkey-Health-Survey-2019-33661 (Accessed 24.04.2023) |
| Notes: | The survey includes modules proposed by European Statistical Office (Eurostat). The 2019 report includes trend data for 2008-2019. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 16830 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors Survey in Turkey. Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health 2013. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2008
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Turkish Health Survey 2019 Report. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Turkey-Health-Survey-2019-33661 (Accessed 24.04.2023) |
| Notes: | The survey includes modules proposed by European Statistical Office (Eurostat). The 2019 report includes trend data for 2008-2019. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2001-2002
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20+ |
| Sample size: | 5016 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Erem C, Arslan C, Hacihasanoglu A, Deger Orhan, Topbas M, Ukinc K, Esoz HO, & Telatar M. Prevalence of Obesity and Associated Risk Factors in a Turkish Population (Trabzon City, Turkey). Obesity Research 2004;12:1117-1127 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1999-2000
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Sample size: | 8674 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Delibasi, T., Karaaslan, Y., Ustun, I. et al. National prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in Turkey: cross sectional study of a representative adult population. cent.eur.j.med 2, 294–303 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11536-007-0024-4 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 1993
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 2401 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 |
| Notes: | The data from this paper was sourced from the Demographic Health Survey Programme https://dhsprogram.com/ Central Statistical Office and Macro International. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Central Statistical Office and Macro International |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2022-2024
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 7 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI): A brief review of results from round 6 of COSI (2022-2024). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2024. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2016-2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 7 |
| Sample size: | 9281 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI): report on the fourth round of data collection, 2015–2017. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2012-2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 7-8 |
| Sample size: | 4951 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Spinelli et al (2019). 'Childhood Severe Obesity in Europe', Obes Facts.12, pp. 244–258. (Data from COSI round 1-3) |
| Notes: | COSI III included IOTF cut-offs used. |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2008
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8-12 |
| Sample size: | 1746 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Agirbasli, M., Adabag, S. and Ciliv, G. (2011), Secular trends of blood pressure, body mass index, lipids and fasting glucose among children and adolescents in Turkey. Clinical Obesity, 1: 161–167. doi: 10.1111/j.1758-8111.2012.00033.x |
| Notes: | Urban IOTF International Cut Off Point NB. Combined child data estimated. These estimates were calculated by weighting male and female survey results. Weighting based on World Bank Population % total female (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS - accessed 20.11.20) |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2001
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 12-17 |
| Sample size: | 989 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Öner N, Vatansever Ü, Sari A, Ekuklu G, Karaslihoglu S and Boris NW. (2004). Prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in Turkish adolescents. Swiss Med Weekly, 134: 529 - 533. |
| Notes: | IOTF Cut off. Reference: Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: International survey. BMJ. 2000 May 6;320(7244):1240-3. |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
0-5 years, 2018-2019
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 1935 |
| References: | DHS-Style: 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey. Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies, T.R. Presidency of Turkey Directorate of Strategy and Budget and TÜB?TAK, Ankara, Turkey. |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight (Survey Estimates), May 2023, New York. For more information about the methodology, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme-2023-country-consultations/ Percentage of children under 5 years of age falling above 2 standard deviations (moderate and severe) from the median weight-for-height of the reference population. |
| Definitions: | =>+2SD |
0-5 years, 2013-2014
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2534 |
| References: | DHS: 2013 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey Ankara, Turkey: Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies, T.R. Ministry of Development and TÜBYTAK, 2014. |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight (Survey Estimates), May 2023, New York. For more information about the methodology, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme-2023-country-consultations/ Percentage of children under 5 years of age falling above 2 standard deviations (moderate and severe) from the median weight-for-height of the reference population. |
| Definitions: | =>+2SD |
0-5 years, 2008
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2485 |
| References: | DHS: Turkey Demographic and Health Survey 2008. Ankara, Turkey: Institute of Population Studies, Hacettepe University. |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight (Survey Estimates), May 2023, New York. For more information about the methodology, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme-2023-country-consultations/ Percentage of children under 5 years of age falling above 2 standard deviations (moderate and severe) from the median weight-for-height of the reference population. |
| Definitions: | =>+2SD |
0-5 years, 2003-2004
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 3679 |
| References: | DHS: Demographic and health survey, 2003. Ankara, Turkey: Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies, MoH General Directorate of Mother and Child Health and Family Planning, State Planning Organization and the EU, 2004 |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight (Survey Estimates), May 2023, New York. For more information about the methodology, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme-2023-country-consultations/ Percentage of children under 5 years of age falling above 2 standard deviations (moderate and severe) from the median weight-for-height of the reference population. |
| Definitions: | =>+2SD |
0-5 years, 1998
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2693 |
| References: | DHS: Turkish demographic and health survey 1998. Demographic and Health Surveys. Hacettepe University, Institute of Population Studies. Ankara, Turkey, 1999 |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight (Survey Estimates), May 2023, New York. For more information about the methodology, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme-2023-country-consultations/ Percentage of children under 5 years of age falling above 2 standard deviations (moderate and severe) from the median weight-for-height of the reference population. |
| Definitions: | =>+2SD |
0-5 years, 1993
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 3165 |
| References: | DHS: Turkey demographic and health survey, 1993. Demographic and Health Surveys. Ankara, Turkey, 1994 |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight (Survey Estimates), May 2023, New York. For more information about the methodology, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme-2023-country-consultations/ Percentage of children under 5 years of age falling above 2 standard deviations (moderate and severe) from the median weight-for-height of the reference population. |
| Definitions: | =>+2SD |
% Adults living with obesity in Turkey 1999-2023
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1999: Delibasi, T., Karaaslan, Y., Ustun, I. et al. National prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in Turkey: cross sectional study of a representative adult population. cent.eur.j.med 2, 294–303 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11536-007-0024-4 2011: Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors Survey in Turkey. Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health 2013. 2017: National Household Health Survey – Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors in Turkey 2017 (STEPS). Üner S, Balcılar M, Ergüder T editors. World Health Organization Country Office in Turkey, Ankara, 2018. 2023: National Household Health Survey – Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors in Turkey 2023 (STEPS). Editors: Mehmet Enes Gökler, Hamit Harun Bağcı, Kanuni Keklik, Toker Erguder, İlayda. Third Ministry of Health, Ankara, 2025. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1999: Delibasi, T., Karaaslan, Y., Ustun, I. et al. National prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in Turkey: cross sectional study of a representative adult population. cent.eur.j.med 2, 294–303 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11536-007-0024-4 2011: Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors Survey in Turkey. Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health 2013. 2017: National Household Health Survey – Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors in Turkey 2017 (STEPS). Üner S, Balcılar M, Ergüder T editors. World Health Organization Country Office in Turkey, Ankara, 2018. 2023: National Household Health Survey – Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors in Turkey 2023 (STEPS). Editors: Mehmet Enes Gökler, Hamit Harun Bağcı, Kanuni Keklik, Toker Erguder, İlayda. Third Ministry of Health, Ankara, 2025. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
% Adults living with overweight or obesity in Turkey 1999-2023
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1999: Delibasi, T., Karaaslan, Y., Ustun, I. et al. National prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in Turkey: cross sectional study of a representative adult population. cent.eur.j.med 2, 294–303 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11536-007-0024-4 2011: Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors Survey in Turkey. Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health 2013. 2017: National Household Health Survey – Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors in Turkey 2017 (STEPS). Üner S, Balcılar M, Ergüder T editors. World Health Organization Country Office in Turkey, Ankara, 2018. 2023: National Household Health Survey – Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors in Turkey 2023 (STEPS). Editors: Mehmet Enes Gökler, Hamit Harun Bağcı, Kanuni Keklik, Toker Erguder, İlayda. Third Ministry of Health, Ankara, 2025. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1999: Delibasi, T., Karaaslan, Y., Ustun, I. et al. National prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in Turkey: cross sectional study of a representative adult population. cent.eur.j.med 2, 294–303 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11536-007-0024-4 2011: Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors Survey in Turkey. Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health 2013. 2017: National Household Health Survey – Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors in Turkey 2017 (STEPS). Üner S, Balcılar M, Ergüder T editors. World Health Organization Country Office in Turkey, Ankara, 2018. 2023: National Household Health Survey – Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors in Turkey 2023 (STEPS). Editors: Mehmet Enes Gökler, Hamit Harun Bağcı, Kanuni Keklik, Toker Erguder, İlayda. Third Ministry of Health, Ankara, 2025. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
