Did you know that there are currently 1.6 billion overweight adults in the world?
Forget all this small city talk, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranks the countries with the greatest percentage of overweight people of its adult population (ages 15+).
The United States used to take the cake (no pun intended) on this list but experts say it is not surprising that people across the globe are increasingly becoming overweight. They place the blame on urbanization and the influx of Western ways of life including fast food choices, little exercise and stressful jobs. This list made me realize that not only is the population growing (in mass), that I really need to brush up on my geography skills.
1. Nauru (94.5%)
2. Micronesia, Federated States of (91.1%)
3. Cook Islands (90.9%)
4. Tonga (90.8%)
5. Niue (81.7%)
6. Samoa (80.4%)
7. Palau (78.4%)
8. Kuwait 74.2%)
9. United States (74.1%)
10. Kiribati (73.6%)
11. Dominica (71.0%)
12. Barbados (69.7%)
13. Argentina (69.4%)
14. Egypt (69.4%)
15. Malta (68.7%)
16. Greece (68.5%)
17. New Zealand (68.4%)
18. United Arab Emirates (68.3%)
19. Mexico (68.1%)
20. Trinidad and Tobago (67.9%)
21. Australia (67.4%)
22. Belarus (66.8%)
23. Chile (65.3%)
24. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (65.2%)
25. Seychelles (64.6%)
Theres 75 more, so read more
26. Bahrain (64.1%)
27. Andorra (63.8%)
28. United Kingdom (63.8%)
29. Saudi Arabia (63.5%)
30. Monaco (62.4%)
31. Bolivia (62.2%)
32. San Marino (62.1%)
33. Guatemala (61.2%)
34. Mongolia (61.2%)
35. Canada (61.1%)
36. Qatar (61.0%)
37. Uruguay (60.9%)
38. Jordan (60.5%)
39. Bahamas (60.4%)
40. Iceland (60.4%)
41. Nicaragua (60.4%)
42. Cuba (60.1%)
43. Germany (60.1%)
44. Brunei Darussalam (59.8%)
45. Slovenia (59.8%)
46. Peru (59.6%)
47. Vanuatu (59.6%)
48. Finland (58.7%)
49. Jamaica (57.4%)
50. Israel (57.3%)
51. Saint Lucia (57.3%)
52. Austria (57.1%)
53. Azerbaijan (57.1%)
54. Turkey (56.8%)
55. Tuvalu (56.6%)
56. Dominican Republic (56.5%)
57. Slovakia (56.3%)
58. Cyprus (56.2%)
59. Saint Kitts and Nevis (56.1%)
60. Costa Rica (55.8%)
61. Colombia (55.6%)
62. Antigua and Barbuda (55.5%)
63. Switzerland (55.4%)
64. Montenegro (54.9%)
65. Serbia (54.9%)
66. Serbia and Montenegro (The frm state union of) (54.9%)
67. Albania (54.8%)
68. Fiji (54.8%)
69. Bulgaria (54.2%)
70. Luxembourg (54.2%)
71. Croatia (53.9%)
72. Bosnia and Herzegovina (53.8%)
73. Portugal (53.8%)
74. Armenia (53.3%)
75. Grenada (53.3%)
76. South Africa (53.3%)
77. Iran (Islamic Republic of) (53.2%)
78. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (53.2%)
79. Lithuania (53.1%)
80. Lebanon (53.0%)
81. Czech Republic (52.9%)
82. Syrian Arab Republic (52.8%)
83. Spain (51.8%)
84. Hungary (51.6%)
85. Panama (51.4%)
86. Tunisia (51.0%)
87. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (50.6%)
88. Brazil (50.5%)
89. Belize (49.8%)
90. Sweden (49.7%)
91. Norway (49.1%)
92. Russian Federation (49.1%)
93. El Salvador (48.7%)
94. Lesotho (48.5%)
95. Suriname (47.8%)
96. Paraguay (47.7%)
97. Guyana (47.5%)
98. Poland (47.5%)
99. Latvia (47.3%)
100. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (47.2%)
Take it with a grain of salt, as the U.S. is No. 9, with 74.1% of those over 15 years old considered overweight, but its population is nearly 20,000 times that of Nauru. To see the full list (way more than 100), check out the article on Forbes.com.
Soft Grey
L'Autre Chose
Tula
Wow, this list really makes you see how out of control the problem has gotten. People magazine had a good article a week ago about obesity in young people. It's a really sad problem because in most cases it is totally preventable with healthy eating habits and moderate activity levels. It makes me glad that when I was young my parents would only allow a maximum of two hours on the computer and watching tv per day and the rest of the time it was "go outside and play, ride your bike!" And we never had fast food more than once every week or two. It helps to develop those healthy habits early in life, it's really a gift to your children.
1I totally thought the US would be #1!
To add on to girl in the world's point, it makes me upset too that there are so many overweight children. When I was a kid (I'm 25 now), I wanted to be outside constantly riding my bike, playing w/my friends etc. The only time I was inside was when it was bad weather out! And, both my parents ate healthy (for the most part!), and my mom was very active with running and aerobic dancing. Kids need positive role models when it comes to health!
2I cant' believe we're number NINE! Go us for not being the FATTEST country in the world, huh? (Or does that mean that the top eight are just REALLY fat?)
3I think all it means it that the top 8 have about 9 people in them, and if 8 out of 9 are chubby, there you have it.
The US is at 75% - 3 in 4. Yikes!
4The first eight are all in the South Pacific and all of them have a population less than 500 thousand (probably even less) combined. Kuwait has about two million, but the US has a population of almost 300 million. Most of the top ten populous countries aren't on the list except US, EU (combined) and Brazil. Hmmm. Interesting numbers.
5I wonder how the numbers would change if children were included in the tally.
6Or if it was calculated based on pounds overweight--ie, someone who is 80 pounds overweight counting more than one who is 10.
79th place ain't bad.
8YIKES!!!!!!!
9I am glad my parents gave my good genes! And that I love to work out and be outside.
I feel bad for those that are overweight. Sometime you just don't have good role models.. And it is hard to start working out when you have no motivation.
10fatties everywhere.... lol
11The current US population is around 301 million, so that means about 222,740,000 (74% of 301 mil) are overweight. I fear for these peoples' health. It's sad the way things have gotten and I hope things will change for the better not just in the US, but globally.
12Actually, the majority of the countries on the top of the list have a cultural affinity for "big men" and such....aka being overweight is a status symbol in alot of Samoan countries...so, in reality, we are more like 3 or 4 on the list I'd say....we aren't trying to be fat like they are.
13I'm sorry but I think the US is #1
14Well, it certainly has the most overweight people at over 200 million, even though it is only no. 9 in terms of percentage...
The other countries in no. 1-8 are nowhere near the population size of the US.
I live in the US now but I'm Canadian...Canada is no. 35!
15I have to agree with ccsugar. I was the same when I was a kid, playing outside was the best thing ever! I used to take jazz ballet classes and play basketball, plus I would ride my bike and go swimming and all that fun stuff!
It's a shame that so many kids rely on playstations and tvs to provide their entertainment. I think that is half the reason so many kids are overweight.
I'm from Australia and we rank 21st on the list. Not great.
16Poor Nauru. As if it didn't already have enough problems. It truly is the saddest country in the world.
17I'm surprise... France isn't in the list... The governement try to teach to kids how to eat because he is worried about the weight of french people (which is incresing)...
Not bad to take the probleme at the begining...
But it's strange... It's difficult to believe it... (but i'm happy not to be in the list...)
And I'm working in Monaco and i haven't see that the Monegasque have weight problems...
18My country is no 71... hmmm i dont recall seeing many fat people EVER, but whatever. I doubt these things are very accurate. What they went around measuring everyone?? They interviewed our dr's? I dont remember this
19wow, U.S. is 9 =/
20lol United states #9 =/ but the sad thing is people say it # would increase if children were included.. i think that is wrong to include the children because they are not fully grown. i think this is a number that is guessed.
21WOW, im a teen and this makes me wonder
22I'd like to see the top100 list of underweight countries.
23when it say percentages does that mean out of the whole country? so in nauru if you get 100 people 2gether 94 of thenm will be overweight? is that what it means? if it does mean that, sh*t.
24Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.