United Arab Emirates
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *7/10This 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 *8.5/11This 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).
Obesity prevalence
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Drivers
Insufficient activity
Soft drink consumption
Fruit consumption
Vegetable consumption
Fast food 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.Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Sample size: | 2142 |
| Area covered: | Dubai |
| References: | Mamdouh H, Hussain HY, Ibrahim GM, Alawadi F, Hassanein M, Zarooni AA, Suwaidi HA, Hassan A, Alsheikh-Ali A, Alnakhi WK. Prevalence and associated risk factors of overweight and obesity among adult population in Dubai: a population-based cross-sectional survey in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. BMJ Open. 2023 Jan 24;13(1):e062053. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062053. PMID: 36693685; PMCID: PMC9884894. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2017-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-69 |
| Sample size: | 4971 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | UAE National Health Survey Report 2017-18. United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Health & Prevention. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ncds/ncd-surveillance/data-reporting/united-arab-emirates/uae-national-health-survey-report-2017-2018.pdf?sfvrsn=86b8b1d9_1&download=true (last accessed 14.10.19) |
| Notes: | STEPS Survey Emirati population only Men 38.5% living with overweight, 32.2% living with obesity Women 29.3% living with overweight, 41.8% living with obesity |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2012-2014
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-80 |
| Sample size: | 2724 |
| Area covered: | Expatriates |
| References: | Sulaiman, Elbadawi, Hussein, Abusnana, Madani, Mairghani, Alawadi, Sulaiman, Zimmet, Huse, Shaw and Peeters. 2017. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in United Arab Emirates Expatriates: the UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 9(88). DOI 10.1186/s13098-017-0287-0. |
| Notes: | Expatriots only, they make up 80% of the population BMI calculated using ethnic specific cut-offs (Among Arabs and Europids - BMI 25 to 30kg/m2 indicated overweight and ≥ 30 kg/m2 indicated obesity. For asians those with BMI of 23 to < 27.5 kg/m2 were considered overweight while a BMI value of ≥ 27.5 kg/m2 indicated obesity) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2000
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20-79 |
| Sample size: | 1286 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | UAEHALS2000. Measuring the health of the Nation. United Areb Emirates and lifestyle survey 2000. Published by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the College of Business & Economics. UAE University. |
| Notes: | NB. Combined adult data estimated. These estimates were calculated by weighting male and female survey results. Weighting based on World Bank Population % total female 2019 (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS - accessed 21.10.20)' |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2018-2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 13-19 |
| Sample size: | 932 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Baniissa W, Radwan H, Rossiter R, et al. Prevalence and determinants of overweight/ obesity among school-aged adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: a crosssectional study of private and public schools. BMJ Open 2020;10:e038667. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2020-038667 |
| Notes: | Small sample size. Convenience sampling was used to select classes. Students with chronic diseases (eg, type 2 diabetes, cancer and mental health conditions) based on information from students’ school records where excluded. |
| Definitions: | A BMI at or above the 85th percentile for adolescents was adopted to classify participants as either overweight/obese |
| Cutoffs: | CDC |
Children, 2016
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-17 |
| Sample size: | 5849 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School Health Survey UAE available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/UAE-2016-gshs-fact-sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 14.12.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2014-2015
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 11-14 |
| Sample size: | 27113 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | AlBlooshi, A., Shaban, S., AlTunaiji, M., Fares, N., AlShehhi, L., AlShehhi, H., AlMazrouei, A., and Souid, A.-K. (2016) Increasing obesity rates in school children in United Arab Emirates. Obesity Science & Practice, 2: 196–202. doi: 10.1002/osp4.37. |
| Notes: | Region: Ras Al-Khaimah |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 6-19 |
| Sample size: | 1440 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | A Al Junaibi, A Abdulle, S Sabri, M Hag-Ali and N Nagelkerke. The prevalence and potential determinants of obesity among school children and adolescents in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Obesity, (14 August 2012), doi:10.1038/ijo.2012.131 |
| Notes: | 85/95th Centile |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 1998-1999
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-17 |
| Sample size: | 381 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Malik M and Bakir A. (2006). Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Children in the United Arab Emirates. Obesity Reviews, 8: 15 - 20. |
| 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 |
