Nauru is a small Pacific island nation that is considered the most obese country in the world. It is also known as the fattest country because of its diet and lack of exercise. In 2024; The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 94.5% population of Nauru is overweight or affected by the obese and the current obesity rate of Nauru is 71.7%.
In this article, we are going to discuss the top 10 countries with most obese people.
Top 10 Countries with Most Obese People
| Rank | Country | Obesity Rate (% of adults) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nauru | ~61% |
| 2 | Cook Islands | ~56% |
| 3 | Palau | ~55% |
| 4 | Marshall Islands | ~52% |
| 5 | Tuvalu | ~52% |
| 6 | Niue | ~50% |
| 7 | Tonga | ~48% |
| 8 | Samoa | ~47% |
| 9 | Kiribati | ~46% |
| 10 | Micronesia, Federated States of | ~45% |
Most Obese Countries in the World
Here’s a list of countries with high obesity rates, based on available data. Note that obesity rates can change due to various factors, including public health initiatives and changes in societal norms regarding diet and physical activity.
1. Nauru
- A small island nation in the Pacific with the highest obesity rate globally.
- Diet transition from fish and vegetables to imported, processed foods is a major contributing factor.
- Limited land for agriculture and reliance on imported food exacerbate obesity issues.
2. Cook Islands
- Another Pacific Island country with a very high obesity rate.
- Traditional diets have been replaced by high-calorie, processed foods.
- Economic prosperity has led to increased food importation and consumption, impacting health.
3. Palau
- Palau faces similar challenges as other Pacific Island nations, with obesity rates among the world’s highest.
- The shift towards Western dietary habits and away from traditional diets contributes to obesity.
- Economic changes and urbanization have led to more sedentary lifestyles.
4. Marshall Islands
- High obesity rates are attributed to a shift from traditional diets to processed foods.
- Economic dependency on food imports and a decline in physical activity are significant factors.
- Efforts to reintroduce local, healthier food options are underway to combat obesity.
5. Tuvalu
- Tuvalu struggles with high obesity rates due to dietary changes and reduced physical activity.
- Imported processed foods have largely replaced the traditional diet based on fish and coconuts.
- The government is working to promote healthier lifestyles and diets.
6. Niue
- Niue, a small Pacific Island, has one of the highest obesity rates, largely due to diet and lifestyle changes.
- A significant shift towards processed food and away from traditional agricultural practices.
- Health initiatives are focused on promoting physical activity and traditional diets.
7. Tonga
- Tonga’s obesity rate is among the highest, driven by a shift to energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods.
- Traditional agricultural practices have declined, replaced by the importation of processed foods.
- Public health campaigns are promoting traditional diets and physical activity.
8. Samoa
- Samoa has faced a rising obesity rate due to dietary changes and a more sedentary lifestyle.
- Economic development has led to increased consumption of imported, processed foods.
- Efforts are being made to encourage physical activity and traditional food consumption.
9. Kiribati
- Kiribati experiences high obesity rates due to similar factors affecting other Pacific Island nations.
- There’s a heavy reliance on imported foods high in fat and sugar.
- National health strategies are focusing on dietary improvements and physical activity promotion.
10. Kuwait
- Kuwait has one of the highest obesity rates in the Middle East.
- Rapid economic growth has led to increased consumption of fast food and sedentary lifestyles.
- The government is implementing health awareness programs and encouraging physical activity.
Most Obese Country in the World – Nauru
The main reason for the high increase in obesity rates in Nauru is related to the 90% of land damaged by phosphate farming. This condition forced Nauru to start buying food from Western countries. It led to a big rise in processed food consumption in Nauru. In the 1990s, Nauru started eating more canned spam and corned beef instead of the seafood, tubers, and fruits they used to eat earlier. Traditional cooking methods like using banana leaves and coconut milk were replaced by simpler, less healthy options like fried eggs, sugary drinks, and chicken with rice. These changes in their diet, along with less physical activity, caused Nauru to be called the world’s fattest country. Right now, 94% of Nauru’s people are overweight, and 66% of those who are 55 or older have diabetes.
|
Most Obese Country in the World – Nauru – Overview |
|
|---|---|
|
Obesity Rate |
94% (entire population) |
|
Diabetes Rate |
66% (among ages 55+) |
|
Diet Shift |
Seafood, tubers, fruits -> Canned spam, corned beef, sugary drinks |
|
Cause of Obesity |
Destruction of landscape from phosphate farming, leading to reliance on processed food imports |
|
Traditional Diet |
Seafood, tubers, fruits |
|
Current Diet |
Canned spam, corned beef, fried eggs, chicken with rice, sugary drinks |
|
Notable Change |
Increase in processed food consumption and Health Impact High obesity and diabetes rates |
Reasons Behind The High Rising Obesity In Nauru
Here are some major reasons of increasing obesity rate in Nauru:
- Damage to Nauru’s land from phosphate farming has forced the country to rely on imported processed foods. It is contributing to the increase in obesity rates.
- The natural diet has been replaced by processed foods like canned spam and corned beef, which are higher in calories and less nutritious.
- Cooking methods in Nauru have shifted from healthier options such as using banana leaves and coconut milk to simpler, less nutritious methods.
- Limited access to fresh locally grown produce has increased the dependence on processed foods.
- Influences from Western eating habits and food culture have also played a role in the rise of obesity in Nauru.
- Decreased physical activity levels due to modernization and sedentary lifestyles contribute to weight gain.
- There is a lack of education on nutrition and healthy eating habits in Nauru.
- Socioeconomic factors, such as income levels and food affordability, affect food choices and accessibility to healthier options.
- Advertising and promotion of unhealthy foods may influence dietary habits in Nauru.
- Limited availability of recreational facilities for physical activity contributes to a sedentary lifestyle.
- Economic dependence on food imports may limit the availability of healthier food options in Nauru.
- There is a lack of sufficient government policies addressing obesity prevention and management.
- Limited healthcare resources for obesity management may hinder effective treatment and prevention efforts.
Government Initiatives To Reduce the Obesity
Nauruan health officials have come up with ways to fight obesity. They suggest walking around the Nauru International Airport, which is about 3 miles (4.8 km) long. They also arrange exercise sessions and sports events often. Here are some major initiatives:
National Obesity Strategy
- Creating a plan to combat obesity across the nation is crucial.
- Focusing on prevention, educating the public, and implementing policies to tackle the issue is essential.
- Collaboration between government agencies, healthcare providers, community groups, and others is vital to develop and execute effective strategies.
- Prioritizing the promotion of healthy eating, encouraging physical activity, and addressing environmental factors contributing to obesity is key.
Nutritional or Health Strategy
- Implementation of a comprehensive Nutritional or Health Strategy to improve dietary habits and overall health outcomes.
- Promotion of balanced diets rich in locally sourced, nutritious foods, reducing reliance on processed and imported goods.
- Integration of nutrition education programs into schools, workplaces, and community settings to foster healthier eating behaviors.
NCD Strategy (Non-Communicable Diseases)
- Incorporation of obesity prevention and management within the broader framework of NCD strategy.
- Focus on early detection, screening, and management of obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.
- Strengthening of healthcare infrastructure and capacity building to provide comprehensive care for NCDs, including obesity.
Management or Treatment Guidelines
- Development and dissemination of evidence-based management or treatment guidelines for healthcare professionals.
- Guidelines should encompass screening protocols, lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy options, and surgical interventions for severe cases.
- Training and capacity building programs for healthcare providers to ensure effective implementation of guidelines and best practices.
Obesity Targets
- Establishment of measurable targets and indicators to track progress in obesity prevention and management.
- Targets may include reducing obesity prevalence rates, improving health outcomes related to obesity, and enhancing public awareness and understanding of obesity-related issues.
- Regular monitoring and evaluation of interventions to assess their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
BMI Index – Most Obese Country in the World
Nauru has the highest number of overweight people globally. On average, Nauruans weigh around 100 kilograms (220 pounds). Their BMI is between 34 and 35, making Nauru the world’s fattest country. A healthy BMI falls between 18.5 and 24.9, while anything over 30 is considered obese. The obesity crisis in Nauru is linked to the introduction of Western foods, which were funded by profits from phosphate mining. Between 1980 and 2008, the average BMI increased by more than 2 kilograms per square meter each decade for both men and women in Nauru.
Turkey Tails And American Samoa
In Samoa, the obesity rate is 80.2 %, which is one of the highest globally. In 2007, Samoa stopped importing turkey tails to improve public health. However, countries usually can’t ban imports unless there are health reasons. Samoa lifted the ban in 2013 to join the WTO, despite health concerns. The obesity rate in Samoa is 75%. Samoa also banned New Zealand mutton flaps in 2007. Turkey tails are fatty meat, 75% fat, also called parson’s nose, pope’s nose, or sultan’s nose.
Least Obese Country – Vietnam
Vietnam has one of the lowest rates of obesity worldwide, with only 2.1% of the population classified as obese. Among children and adolescents aged 5-19 years, 19.0% are overweight and 8.1% are obese. The adult obesity rate is just 1%, and even among children under 5 years old, the prevalence of overweight is only 7.4%. Although Vietnam has ranked as the high physical inactive country, it also boasts the lowest rate of adult obesity globally. A study from Stanford University initially caused concern by ranking Vietnamese people’s daily steps as among the lowest worldwide.
On average, Vietnamese people take around 3,600 steps per day, far below the global average of 5,000 steps. However, this seemingly contradicts the fact that Vietnam has the lowest rate of adult obesity. The discrepancy may be explained by another global study showing that countries with big gaps between people who walk a lot and those who do not tend to have higher levels of obesity. Despite this, Vietnam’s low obesity rate is facing challenges as the trend is growing, especially among children.
|
Adult Obesity Rate |
1% |
|---|---|
|
Children and Adolescents (5-19 years) |
|
|
Children (Under 5 years) |
Overweight 7.4% |
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FAQs – Most Obese Country in the World
Where does India rank in obesity?
India, with 41 million obese people, ranks third after the US and China in having the highest number of overweight people in the world, says a study.
Which state has the highest obesity rate?
West Virginia (41%), Louisiana (40.1%) and Oklahoma (40%) are the states with the fattest populations in the nation, laying claim to the highest proportion of adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 40% or greater, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Which state in India is most obese?
More women are found to be obese in Southern states of Kerala (65.4%) and Tamil Nadu (57.9%) and northern states of Punjab (62.5%) and Delhi (59%).
What is America’s obesity rate?
The latest data indicate that 39.6 percent of U.S. adults are obese. (Another 31.6 percent are overweight and 7.7 percent are severely obese.)
Is America #1 in obesity?
Is America really the most obese country in the world? Well, not quite, it ranks as the 12 th most obese country worldwide, but number 1 when considering high-income countries
Who has the lowest obesity rate in the world?
The lowest projected obesity rates are found in Asia, with Vietnam at 7%, followed by Japan at 8%, Singapore at 9%, and both India and Bangladesh at 11%.
Why is Japan so low in obesity?
The average person in Japan consumes over 200 fewer calories per day than the average American. Food prices are substantially higher in Japan, but the traditional Japanese dietary habits, although changing, are also healthier.
What is Japan’s obesity rate?
Prevalence of obesity (BMI > or = 30) in Japanese adults (aged 20 years and over) was 3.8% in males and 3.2% in females (National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2010), being quite low compared with other countries listed in the Global Database on Body Mass Index (WHO).
What is overweight in Japan?
The Japan Society for the Study of Obesity recommends instead using a BMI of 25 as the threshold for obesity for the Japanese population.