Obesity has been on the rise worldwide for at least the last half-century, contributing to what many officials consider a public health crisis. Although some debate continues about how to accurately measure risks, the rate of obesity worldwide continues to rise, and with it a host of health problems.

What do the most obese countries have in common? What does it mean for individuals and society?

Measuring Obesity

Here’s a look at the 20 most obese countries, based on data compiled by the US: World Health Organization (WHO), valid until 2022.

So what does “obese” actually mean? The current standard covers people with a body mass index (BMI) over 30.

This information is fine if you know how to measure BMI, but what if you don’t? It is calculated by chance body mass index It is quite simple.

Take the individual’s weight and divide it by the square of his height. It should be noted that both of these measurements are in the metric system, meaning kilograms per meter squared.

If a person weighs 72.6 kg (160 lbs) and is 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall, this is how you calculate body mass index:

This puts the person within the healthy BMI range (18.5-25).

However, if that same person weighed 230 lbs (104.3 kg), their BMI would be 32.2, making them technically obese.

Effects of Obesity

Obesity has long been considered a health risk. Modern medicine and epidemiology have found close relationships between excess body fat and a range of health problems, from cardiovascular disease to cancers and a variety of chronic diseases. Obesity, in particular, has been recognized as an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Gaining too much weight can cause all kinds of problems. It can force a person’s heart to work harder, leading to chronic high blood pressure and heart disease. It can also cause excessive wear and tear on bones and muscles. Obesity is even thought to lead to mental health problems such as depression.

On a social level, increasing obesity has serious costs that go far beyond financial costs. Fortunately, various interventions are available in different countries where the obesity rate is extremely high.

Public health campaigns help raise awareness about the risks of unhealthy foods (high-fat, high-sugar, highly processed foods) and sedentary lifestyles.

better nutrition, dieting and regular physical activity are encouraged as interventions that do not involve medication or surgery, although these options are also used in some cases.

Why Is Obesity Rising?

For the most part, it appears that the massive increase in obesity worldwide really increased in the years after 1975. In fact, most estimates show the current rate to be about three times higher since that year. The reasons are not fully understood, but are likely a combination of factors.

In many places, such as the Pacific Island countries at the top of the list, a combination of changing lifestyle, diet and genetic predisposition is often listed. As people switch from traditional meals to cheap, processed foods (along with a sedentary lifestyle), they are more likely to gain excess weight.

But the problem remains stubborn. Obesity is a problem not only in the adult population, but also in low-, high- and middle-income countries, among women and men, and in almost every age group.

Some researchers are also investigating whether increased pollution (especially chemicals that can disrupt the body’s endocrine system) is a major factor.

Controversies Around BMI

It is also important to note that BMI is not an ideal way to determine the relationship between body weight and health. For example, many athletes have a BMI that makes them overweight or even obese due to the extra muscle mass they carry.

Moreover, its precise role obesity It continues to be a matter of debate in various diseases. Public health experts and scientists are increasingly questioning whether body mass index is the most useful measure for determining who is most at risk because of body size and shape.

Other measurements shown, such as waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), which compares height to waist circumference rather than weight increased kindness.

More About the Most Obese Countries

Here are the most obese countries, measured by the percentage of the population considered obese. data We used data from the World Health Organization (WHO), which tracks all kinds of health-related information. It is current until 2022.

1. Tonga (71.7%)

This South Pacific island nation has a notable obesity rate, with nearly three-quarters of the population of 106,858 being obese.

2. Nauru (69.6%)

Nauru, with a population of 12,668, has the second highest obesity rate. The small island nation is located in the South Pacific.

3. Cook Islands (68.9%)

Located in the South Pacific, the Cook Islands are the region with the third highest obesity rate with a population of 14,723.

4. Niue (66.6%)

The small island of Niue, with a population of 1,681 located in the southern Pacific Ocean, ranks 4th on this list, with nearly two-thirds of the population considered obese by WHO standards.

5. Tuvalu (64.2%)

Tuvalu, another small island in the Pacific Ocean, has a population of 11,312. Its obesity rate puts it at number 5 on this list.

6. Samoa (62.4%)

With a population of 222,382, Samoa is the most populous island we’ve encountered so far on this list.

7. Bahamas (47.3%)

We are in 7th place and are now on the other side of the stark gap in obesity rates. The rate, which was previously around 60 percent, is in the high 40s on the Bahamas island in the Caribbean with a population of 409 thousand 984.

8. Micronesia (47.1%)

In the Pacific (still in the tropics, albeit further north than previous entries), Micronesia, with a population of 114,164, has an obesity rate that puts it 8th.

9. Kiribati (46.3%)

Not far from Micronesia is another island nation, Kiribati. It has a population of 131,232 and an obesity rate of just over 46 percent.

10. Marshall Islands (45.9%)

The population of the archipelago known as the Marshall Islands, located between Hawaii and the Philippines, is 41,569 and it is among the top ten countries in terms of obesity rate.

11. Saint Kitts and Nevis (45.6%)

St., a two-island country. Kitts & Nevis has a population of 47,657 (unlike some of the single-island nations on this list so far).

12. Egypt (44.3%)

With a population of 111 million, Egypt is a much more populous country than what has been revealed to date. Over-reliance on staples such as refined flour and sugar is likely the cause of the rising obesity rate in Egypt.

13.Qatar (43.1%)

Located in the Persian Gulf, Qatar has a population of 2.7 million. Recent years have seen an increase in the number of obese adults and it now stands as one of the most obese countries worldwide.

14. Belize (42.3%)

Belize is located on the southeast side of the Yucatan Peninsula. With a population of 405,272 people, the obesity rate is quite high.

15. United States (42%)

The numbers in the United States, long known as a country with a high obesity rate, are still high, although not as high as you might think. With a population of 333.3 million, it is the most populous country we have seen so far on this list.

16. Kuwait (41.4%)

4.27 million people live in Kuwait, another Gulf country. It ranks just behind the United States in obesity rate.

17. Palau (41.1%)

The population of the country Palau is 18,055. Palau, another island country in the Micronesia region of the Pacific Ocean, ranks 17th in obesity rates.

18. Saudi Arabia (40.6%)

Officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this large country in the Middle East has a population of 36.41 million. It ranks 18th with an obesity rate of just over 40 percent.

19. Iraq (40.5%)

Iraq is almost connected to Saudi Arabia. It is a crowded country with a population of 44.5 million, where the obesity problem is increasing.

20. Chile (38.9%)

At the bottom of our list of 20 is Chile, located in South America. With a population of 19.6 million, the obesity rate is just under 40 percent.

Where Are Obesity Rates Low?

Not every society has an obesity problem. Vietnam currently ranks last on the list with an obesity rate of 2.02 percent. As a country with a solid public health infrastructure, Vietnam, along with countries like Japan (5.54 percent), can learn valuable lessons for other countries around the world.

Original article: The 20 Most Obese Countries in the World

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