China 3. In 2017, Sophie Morgan, foreign reporter with the British Guardian, spoke to a 28-year-old American Samoan woman at a diabetes clinic who didn’t understand how she had developed the disease or how to manage it. The study also showed that a quarter of all the Spanish children surveyed have a television in their bedroom. Despite a rich supply of fish and locally harvested food, I-Kiribati (as native people from the area are called) have steadily increased their consumption of cheap, low quality imported food high in salt, sugar and saturated fat in recent decades. The most obese countries in the world are not necessarily the richest or most developed. Over 40 percent of children and teenagers in Greece are overweight. Two-thirds of them had an abnormally increased appetite for food and half of them were not satisfied after a meal. India 4. Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. This is a list of countries ranked by the proportion of the population that is obese.The data is derived from The World Factbook authored by the Central Intelligence Agency, which gives the adult prevalence rate for obesity, defined as "the percent of a country's population considered to be obese". Things have changed and it’s happening all over the world. People work more and have less time for cooking, they chose convenience either because of lack of time or because many times it’s cheaper. At 27.8%, the percentage of the UK population who are obese is lower only than Turkey, at 32.1%, and Malta, with 28.9%. Jackson, Mississippi. Taking the bemusing title of 10th fattest country in the world, Kuwait is the only nation in the top 10 outside the South Pacific region. A recent analysis of 96 hours of TV programming concluded that more than half of food commercials were for unhealthy food. United States 2. 42.8 percent of the population are considered to be obese, while a staggering 70 percent fall into the overweight classification. So let’s take a look at the countries where obesity is a huge threat to the life expectancy of the country. Around 36 percent of New Zealand’s children (about a third) and teenagers are overweight or obese. By Worldatlas.com. There was no dining out, carry out, drive through or fast food. Although obesity was previously regarded as a social health issue in high income countries where people eat rich, calorific diets, the condition is swiftly on the increase in low-middle income nations particularly in urban areas. Sources: aljazeera.com, dailymail.com, huffingtonpost.com, thesun.co.uk. People are considered overweight if their body mass index (BMI) is 25 or higher and obese with a BMI or 30 or higher. Of the world's 20 most populous countries, Egypt has the biggest weight problem. Hungary was not the only country to come up with such taxes, but their taxing program was the most comprehensive in the world at the time. Children are either spoiled and allowed to eat whatever they want or get an extra portion or they are told “You’ve had enough to eat”. Yahoo Life. POPULAR POSTS. Belize – 34.9% It’s always worrying to see a country quickly climb a list of the fattest countries like … 10 most obese countries in the world Nauru Palau Cook Islands (New Zealand) Marshall … Some medical experts believe that the government should ban advertising unhealthy food to children and should increase taxes on high-calorie foods. The Cook Islands MInistry of Health cited numerous behavioural, socio-economic and environmental factors as the causes of such alarming obesity levels, and announced plans to improve education programmes about nutrition in schools. Surprisingly, the fattest countries are not those you might expect - and there’s one particular region where obesity is increasing at a jaw-dropping four times the global average: the South Pacific. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson But the Italians wouldn’t have it. His meals consisted of two packets of noodles, two eggs, a pound of chicken and rice. Top 10 Most Obese Countries: 1. At school, when he finishes his lunch, he begs his classmates for more food; when he doesn’t get any, he tries to steal it. Hailed as ‘the least visited, most obese country on earth’ by the British Telegraph, only a US territory comes ahead of Nauru in the world rankings making it the most overweight sovereign state on the planet. In 2014, one in 6 boys and one in 11 girls were obese. Poverty drives people to eat cheaper, low-quality foods. Chile’s consumption of sugary drinks hit an all-time high. Mexicans have transitioned from a diet rich in corn and beans to one high in sugar and unhealthy fats. Nauru is a Pacific Island nation with roughly 10,000 inhabitants. Combine that with easy, unlimited access to the snack cupboard and that’s how the problems begin. The tiny island nation also imports large quantities of low quality turkey tails from the US, which the BBC have reported are regarded by Tongans as socially superior to domestically farmed fish and meat. In Portugal, too, obesity is one of the biggest public health problems. And this is where things get interesting. But they are tiny nations with small populations. In 2013 one out of every five children was suffering from obesity. In order to help consumers make educated decisions about their purchases, the Ministry of Health developed labels for high-calorie products and for those with a high content of fat, sugar, and sodium. One of the primary culprits behind Tonga’s disturbing weight problem is the importation of cheap, fatty cuts of meat called mutton flaps from New Zealand (which are used in fast food and doner kebabs across Europe). November 10, 2013. Greece used to be on the list of healthy countries thanks to the Mediterranean diet: olive oil, legumes, fruits and vegetables, seafood, good quality dairy. Italy’s young generation is consuming more processed foods, more fast food, and more sugary sweets and beverages. Again, in a different age, being curvy or even overweight was a sign of prosperity, so it was more common in people with a very good financial situation. The program intends to get school children to enjoy fruit, so they could have healthy eating habits as they grow into adulthood. Their parents are desperate and say they would do anything to help them, but they keep feeding them biscuits, crisps, and soda on a daily basis. Weight is calculated via the Body Mass Index (BMI), which assesses a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height. An imbalanced or raised BMI can trigger a vast range of serious health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and other degenerative bone diseases, many cancers and respiratory difficulties. American Samoa is in the grip of a malnutrition epidemic, with much of the population relying on processed, low quality foods imported from the US for sustenance. Who is the Richest Person in the World Ever 2020 List. Another study conducted between 2008 and 2012 on more than 74 million children aged up to 18 says that Spanish children are given 3.5 times more antibiotics than children in other European countries. The healthcare costs related to childhood obesity amount up to $14 billion every year. Before the surgery, he weighed 420 lbs, about six times more than other children his age. And with junk food being much cheaper than fresh food, things are not looking very good for the Greeks. In 1980, the country’s obesity rate was only 10.4%, but increased to 16.3% within a period of 10 years, and then reached 28.2% in 2010. Worldwide obesity has almost tripled since 1975; as of 2017, the World Health Organisation declared more than 603 million adults and 107 million children to be obese globally - that is, roughly five percent of all children and 12 percent of adults on earth. According to public health statistics, 43.4 percent of the Tongan population are obese. A further 30 percent of the population live with type 2 diabetes. The least overweight country in Europe is Switzerland, who placed 111th, narrowly beating France (108th), Denmark (107th) and Sweden (104th). Follow. A 2005 report found more than 91 percent of residents were not eating sufficient amounts of fruit and vegetables while a further 42 percent were significantly lacking in daily physical exercise. Diseases. Things were so bad that many people couldn’t afford to buy healthy food and had to turn to cheap and fattening alternatives. 43.4 percent of Samoans were found to be obese in a CNN survey, while 9 out of 10 adults are deemed to be overweight. In many cas… Just one more proof that factors leading to obesity are many times more complex than we think. Vitamin A deficiency is a widespread public health issue in the Marshall Islands, as well as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension. The organization reported that 31% of American 15-year olds self-reported as overweight, though the most recent data is from 2013-14. The study also showed that a quarter of all the Spanish children surveyed have a television in their bedroom. About 24% (nearly a quarter) of all kindergarten children aged 5-6 years old are now overweight and obese, placing Spain towards the top of the list, for this age category. A country where 270 million people live below the 'poverty line', obesity seems to be a distant issue, meant for the rich kids of first world. China is yet another country that has adopted a Western lifestyle. In this article we take a look at the 25 most obese countries in the world. South Carolina. A typical child spends between 4 and 5 hours a day watching TV, using the computer or playing video games. It is tied with Barbados with regards to the percentage of obese citizens. It is not uncommon for people to blame genetics for their weight issues, but let’s face it, if your parents ate unhealthy food all their life and you are just following in their footsteps, it’s not genetics, it’s poor lifestyle choices. Tag: top 10 obese countries. Researchers have often claimed governments across the South Pacific to be traditionally reluctant to invest in raising awareness about health and dietary issues. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you … Obesity is a major health concern in Turkey, as it ranks as the fattest nation in Europe, with an obesity rate of 32.1% and ranks 17th in the world. This plan is obviously not flawless and labeling soda products with sugar, but not labeling the ones with artificial sweeteners is only one of the issues. It was precisely in the 60s that The Sugar Association started pushing ads promoting sugar as being healthy and even helpful when trying to lose weight! For decades the United States Of America has been touted “The Most Obese Country In The World”.Today, that has changed according to recent findings. By the time he was eight he was already putting on a lot of weight and things did not stop for years. Just how bad has it gotten in the U.S.? The average percentage of people who are obese in Europe is 23.3%. In order to help children get more nutrients, the School Fruit Programme launched by the European Community in 2009, brings fruit to over 2,000 schools for over 500,000 children. The U.S. and the UK, which are ranked 12th and 36th, respectively, indicate theres no direct relationship between obesity and a countrys economic status. Here are the 10 most obese countries by obesity rate: American Samoa ( 74.60%) Tokelau ( … He often gets punched in the face for it, but that doesn’t seem to scare him. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 10 most obese countries in the world. In many cases, children are simply copying their parents’ behavior: no exercise, watching TV for hours or spending time on an electronic device, all while snacking on unhealthy foods. Kiribati also struggles with access to clean water and sanitation, with only half to two thirds of the population have a quality supply of drinking water. Adults with obesity: 40.8 percent. WHO takes a look at a list of the top 10 most overweight countries in the world. Is USA the most obese country? The female BMI averages 28.7 and it ranks as the 21st most obese for women, with the male BMI averaging 27.9, making it the 20th most obese country in the world for men. Brazil 6. A Chinese company is doing its part in trying to get people to lose weight: they are offering 100 yuan (about $15) to their employees for every kilogram they lose. Most obese countries 1: The United States is the most obese country in the world with 34% of the adult population classified as obese, according to the latest OECD survey. Of course, that doesn’t come easy for the boy. Most Obese Countries. Please support TheClever so we can continue providing you with great content! Russia 5. Slovenian pediatricians believe that the young generation is allowed to eat whatever they want, instead of being guided towards healthier foods. Latest Stories. Alice Murphy is a contributor for WHO and New Idea. Nutrition is a significant health risk factor in the small island grouping of Kiribati, which has a population of less than 100,000. With 36 percent of all children being overweight or obese, Italy is number 2 on the list. Indonesia is another country where obesity rates are increasing at an upsetting rate. It’s a series of islands near Grenada and in close proximity to the northeastern coast of Venezuela. Although they sound like high-carb meals, they are still better than highly processed junk foods. When he ended up in the emergency room, in 2011, he was suffering from sleep apnea, he couldn’t stay awake and his skin was turning blue. ... December 21, 2015. Poor diet and reduced levels of physical activity have become major public health concerns in Samoa, where residents have a genetic predisposition to developing type 2 diabetes. Surprisingly enough considering its ranking as the fattest state in the US, the … He has recently been put on a diet, which reduced his daily intake from 3 bowls of rice per day to just one. To put things into perspective, countries such as American Samoa and Tokelau have obesity rates of nearly 75%. Mississippi. A contrasting 2014 report claims colonial settlers from Europe and later Australia are to blame for teaching the Islanders Western ways of eating and cooking like frying food rather than eating it boiled or raw. Obesity is defined as the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat which negatively affects overall health. Today in economic rich countries, like the United States, United Kingdom, or Australia, there are fewer countries still touched by obesity including Venezuela, Colombia, Egypt, and more. 26, 2020. admin-November 2, 2013. Italians have switched from shopping at small delis and bakeries to supermarket chains where many of their foods of choice are imported. As per WHO, the top 10 most obese countries are: American Samoa Nauru Cook Islands Tokelau Tonga Samoa Palau Kiribati Marshall Islands Kuwait For example, the products with the black label cannot be advertised to children under 14 or include toys. Only 2% of American children eat a healthy diet. 2017 research from the World Health Organisation found more than 30 percent of children in the Cook Islands were obese. For the past 30 years, obesity has skyrocketed across western countries and small countries. A study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2010 concluded that 11.5 percent of children aged between 10-12 suffer from malnutrition, while 12.1 are obese. He lost 70 lbs thanks to the surgery and is expected to lose another 220 in the next year. At least that’s the plan, but who knows if this will work. When he was about 6, he was skinny and his mother kept pushing him to eat. Physicians are concerned that the same people who are malnourished are the ones who are becoming obese. Israel is considered a very child-centered society with parents being either too permissive or too authoritarian. The region is blessed with rich biodiversity, stunning landscapes and pristine beaches, but Palau is also plagued with significant health challenges, the worst of which is chronic obesity.