Obesity is one of the most common health problems around the world, however, some countries have higher rates of obesity than others.
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that poses a health risk.
A body mass index (BMI) above 25 indicates overweight, and more than 30 indicates obesity. In fact, the problem has grown to epidemic proportions, with more than 4 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese, according to 2017 statistics according to the “global burden of disease” programme.
The Global Obesity Observatory provides updated statistics on obesity rates all over the world, and the list includes, in fact, Arab countries in advanced positions in the ranking.
According to the data of the Global Obesity Observatory, Kuwait ranks first in terms of obesity rates for men in the Arab countries, with a rate of 34.28%, and it ranks 15th in the global ranking of obesity among adult men, among 200 countries around the world.
It is followed by Qatar in 16th place globally and second in the Arab world, with an obesity rate of 33.46%, then in 17th place globally, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and third in the Arab world, with a rate of 31.73%.
Jordan comes in 23rd place, fourth in the world at a rate of 29.17%, then the UAE in 26th place according to the global ranking of obesity in men, and fifth in terms of Arab countries, at a rate of 28.44%.
Libya ranked 38th, Iraq ranked 55th, Oman ranked 60th, and Egypt 61st.
Syria ranks 77th, followed by Morocco 85th, Tunisia 89th, Yemen 127th, Mauritania 141st and finally Sudan 174th.
As for obesity rates among women in the Arab world, Kuwait also tops the Arab ranking and ranks 14th globally, then Qatar ranks 15th, followed by Jordan ranks 16th, and Saudi Arabia ranks 17th.
Egypt comes after them in 19th place, then the UAE in 20th place, and Libya in 22nd place.
Palestine ranks 25th in obesity rates for women, followed by Lebanon 27th, followed by Iraq 28th, and Bahrain 29th.
Algeria was ranked 33rd in the world rankings, followed by Syria, Tunisia and Oman in 34th, 35th and 38th positions, respectively.
Morocco occupies the 42nd place, then Yemen 106th, and Mauritania and Sudan come at the end of the ranking in the 130th and 159th places, respectively, out of 200 countries around the world.
Globally, the island of Nauru ranked first in terms of obesity rates for men, with a rate of 59.85%, and American Samoa came first in terms of obesity rates for women.