What are the most obese countries?
Although overweight and obesity are global problems, rates of obesity can differ drastically from country to country. The countries with the highest share of the population that is overweight or obese are the Pacific Island countries of Nauru, Palau, and the Cook Islands. In Nauru an astonishing 87.9 percent of the population is overweight or obese. The United States, well known for it’s struggles with obesity, is the 12th most overweight/obese country in the world. When compared with similarly wealthy countries, the United States has a much higher rate of obesity than its counterparts. Around 33 percent of both men and women in the United States self-report that they are obese, compared to 19 percent of women and men in Germany, and just 3.2 percent of women and 5.3 percent of men in South Korea.Obesity among children and adolescents
The problem of obesity among children and adolescents is particularly alarming as obese children have a greater chance of being obese in adulthood or experiencing disability or premature death as adults. In 2020, around 18 percent of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years worldwide were considered obese, with this number expected to increase to 38 percent by the year 2035. Although rates of obesity are expected to increase for both boys and girls, boys are more likely to be obese. In 2020, the Americas was the region with the highest share of boys who were obese, but by 2035 the Western Pacific is predicted to have the highest share of boys aged 5 to 19 years suffering from obesity with around 41 percent. The simplest ways for children and adults alike to lose weight and avoid becoming overweight or obese are by eating a healthy and balanced diet and through physical exercise.
