The international portal OurWorldinData has published global data from the World Health Organization regarding the proportion of the adult population with an elevated body mass index (BMI). The 2024 information is based on modeled estimates by WHO experts. According to the methodology, adults classified as overweight or obese include individuals with a BMI greater than 25. BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. In 2024, 45% of the world's adult population was overweight.
Among the 199 countries surveyed, island nations and territories ranked the worst, with 90% to 91% of their adult populations having a BMI over 25. WHO data reveals that, with few exceptions, the lowest rates of adult overweight or obesity are found in low-income African countries.
Uzbekistan ranked 59th globally with a rate of 64%, the highest figure in Central Asia. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the share of adults with a BMI over 25 stood at 56%, while in Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, it reached 58%.
Over the past 44 years, the obesity situation has worsened in every Central Asian country. Data since 1980 demonstrates a steady rise in the proportion of adults with a BMI over 25, continuing through 2024. Over these years, the figure increased by 19 to 36 percentage points. The trend across all five regional states is consistent—showing no sharp declines, with an acceleration in growth rates between 2010 and 2020. The most pronounced increase from 1980 to 2024 was recorded in Uzbekistan, jumping from 28% to 64%. This makes the country the regional leader in the prevalence of the issue. A highly rapid increase in the share of overweight or obese adults was also noted in Turkmenistan (from 30% to 58%) and Tajikistan (from 27% to 58%). This trend reflects the impact of shared regional factors, including shifting dietary habits, declining physical activity, and rising urbanization.
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