Zimbabwe
Lower-middle income
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- 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 *6/11This 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).
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Population breakdowns
Drivers
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2015
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 16647 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency and ICF International. 2016. Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2015: Final Report. Rockville, Maryland, USA: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and ICF International. |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. Women = 8926, Men = 7721 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2010-2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 14669 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministerio da Saude - MISAU/Moçambique, Instituto Nacional de Estatística - INE/Moçambique and ICF International. Moçambique Inquérito Demográfico e de Saúde 2011. Calverton, Maryland, USA: MISA/Moçambique, INE/Moçambique and ICF International. |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 1994
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 1549 |
| 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, 2015
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 6-12 |
| Sample size: | 974 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Kambondo G, Sartorius B. Risk Factors for Obesity and Overfat among Primary School Children in Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Feb 2;15(2):249. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15020249. PMID: 29393863; PMCID: PMC5858318. |
| Notes: | Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2015
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-19 |
| Sample size: | 3411 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Benedict, Rukundo K., Allison Schmale, and Sorrel Namaste. 2018. Adolescent Nutrition 2000-2017: DHS Data on Adolescents Age 15-19. DHS Comparative Report No. 47. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF. Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency and ICF International. 2016. Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2015: Final Report. Rockville, Maryland, USA: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and ICF International. |
| Notes: | 1667 girls and 1744 boys |
| Definitions: | BMI for age: between +1 SD and +2 SD is overweight and greater than +2 SD is obesity |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 1990-1994
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-17 |
| Sample size: | 2341 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ferro-Luzzi A. (2001). National Institute of Food and Nutrition Research. Rome, Italy. Unpublished data reanalyzed. |
| 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. NB. Combined child 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)' |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
0-5 years, 2024
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Zimbabwe 2024 Rural Livelihoods Assessment Report and Zimbabwe 2024 Urban Nutrition Assessment Report |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight estimates: National and Disaggregated, July 2025, New York. Weighted sample size. For more information, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme/. NB. Weighted analysis using urban/rural distribution in 2019 MICS |
| Definitions: | 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. |
| Cutoffs: | =>+2SD |
0-5 years, 2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 5968 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and UNICEF (2019). Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, Survey Findings Report. Harare, Zimbabwe: ZIMSTAT and UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/media/2536/file/Zimbabwe%202019%20MICS%20Survey%20Findings%20Report-31012020_English.pdf (Last accessed 17.05.21) |
| Notes: | Infants |
| Definitions: | Weight for Height. Overweight = 2SD-3SD, Obesity = > 3SD |
| Cutoffs: | Other |
0-5 years, 2015
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 6266 |
| References: | DHS: Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2015: Final Report. Rockville, Maryland, USA: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and ICF International. |
| 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, 2014
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 9550 |
| References: | MICS: Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2014, Final Report. Harare, Zimbabwe |
| 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, 2012-2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 1672120 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Zimbabwe Micronutrient Survey 2012 Results, 2012. Harare, Zimbabwe: MOHCC |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight estimates: National and Disaggregated, July 2025, New York. Weighted sample size. For more information, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme/. |
| Definitions: | 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. |
| Cutoffs: | =>+2SD |
0-5 years, 2010-2011
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 5366 |
| References: | DHS: Zimbabwe demographic and health survey 2010-11. Demographic and Health Surveys. Calverton, Maryland: ZIMSTAT and ICF International Inc., 2012 |
| 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, 2009
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 6210 |
| References: | MICS: Zimbabwe multiple indicator monitoring survey (MIMS), 2009. Report August 2010. Harare, Zimbabwe: ZIMSTAT, 2010 |
| 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, 2005-2006
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 4986 |
| References: | DHS: Zimbabwe demographic and health survey 2005-06. Demographic and Health Surveys. Calverton, Maryland: CSO and Macro International Inc., 2007 |
| 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, 1999
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 3049 |
| References: | DHS: Zimbabwe demographic and health survey 1999. Demographic and Health Surveys. Calverton, Maryland: Central Statistical Office and Macro International Inc., 2000 |
| 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, 1994
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2041 |
| References: | DHS: Zimbabwe demographic and health survey 1994. Demographic and Health Surveys. Calverton, Maryland: Central Statistical Office and Macro International Inc., 1995 |
| 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, 1988-1989
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2459 |
| References: | DHS: Zimbabwe demographic and health survey, 1988. Demographic and Health Surveys. Harare, Zimbabwe, 1989 |
| 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 Zimbabwe 1994-2015
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1994: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 2010: Ministerio da Saude - MISAU/Moçambique, Instituto Nacional de Estatística - INE/Moçambique and ICF International. Moçambique Inquérito Demográfico e de Saúde 2011. Calverton, Maryland, USA: MISA/Moçambique, INE/Moçambique and ICF International. 2015: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency and ICF International. 2016. Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2015: Final Report. Rockville, Maryland, USA: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and ICF International. |
| 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 Zimbabwe 1994-2015
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1994: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 2010: Ministerio da Saude - MISAU/Moçambique, Instituto Nacional de Estatística - INE/Moçambique and ICF International. Moçambique Inquérito Demográfico e de Saúde 2011. Calverton, Maryland, USA: MISA/Moçambique, INE/Moçambique and ICF International. 2015: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency and ICF International. 2016. Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2015: Final Report. Rockville, Maryland, USA: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and ICF International. |
| 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. | |
