The Public Underestimates The Extent Of Obesity

Out of every 100 people in your country, how many do you think are overweight? When Ipsos MORI posed this question to respondents recently, the majority of them significantly underestimated the prevalence of obesity. In India, however, there was an overestimation. Only 20 percent of people are overweight while the average guess there was 41 percent. In the United States, people guessed that the obesity rate is 50 percent. In reality, it is 66 percent. Saudi Arabia is struggling with an obesity problem and its citizens significantly underestimated its extent. They guessed that 28 out of every 100 people are overweight while in reality, the number is 71.

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This chart shows responses to the question "out of every 100 people, how many do you think are overweight/obese?"

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Percentage of adults in the U.S. whose BMI placed them as obese and who correctly considered themselves obese as of 2016
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Prevalence of obesity across India in 2016 and 2021, by gender
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Ranking of the overweight population share by country 2024
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Prevalence of overweight or obese adults in OECD countries as of 2025
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Prevalence of obesity among children in India in 2015 and 2021
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Prevalence of obesity among adults in selected countries as of 2025, by gender

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