Libya has the highest obesity rates in Africa while Ethiopia has the lowest. List of countries and percent of adults aged 18 and over considered obese.
Here is a list of countries and percent of adults aged 18 and over considered obese in Africa. The five most obese African countries are Libya, Egypt, South Africa, Algeria and Tunisia.
Obesity is defined as an adult having a Body Mass Index greater to or equal to 30. Most of the world's population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight, this includes Africa despite the media perception of starving Africans.
Throughout Africa as part of the trend toward greater consumption of convenience foods, demand for fried potatoes is increasing. Over-consumption of these high-energy products, along with reduced physical activity, can lead to overweight. Therefore the role of fried foods in the African diet must be taken into consideration in efforts to prevent overweight, obese and diet related non-communicable diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.
Obese Rank |
African Country |
Population |
Total Obese |
%Obese |
1 |
Libya |
6.9 Million |
2.2 Million |
32.5% |
2 |
Egypt |
104.4 Million |
33.4 Million |
32% |
3 |
South Africa |
56.4 Million |
15.9 Million |
28.3% |
4 |
Algeria |
42. 9 Million |
11.7 Million |
27.4% |
5 |
Tunisia |
11.7 Million |
3.1 Million |
26.9% |
 |
Grilled chicken served at a roadside restaurant in central Libya. |
Obesity is a complicated but preventable health topic resulting from a combination of causes and individual factors such as behavior and genetics. Once considered a first world problem, obesity is on the rise in low- and middle-income countries in urban African communities.
In urban African populations out of the 20 fastest rising countries with obesity, nearly half are in Africa. Contributing factors include the prevalence of fast food restaurants such as McDonald's and KFC and food marketing and promotion. Libya has the highest obesity rates in Africa while Ethiopia has the lowest.
Obesity is frequently subdivided into categories:
Class 1: BMI of 30 to 35.
Class 2: BMI of 35 to 40.
Class 3: BMI of 40 or higher, class 3 obesity is sometimes categorized as extreme or severe obesity.
Percent of fat people in Africa listed by country.
World Rank |
African Country |
Percent of Obesity |
16 |
Libya |
32.5 |
18 |
Egypt |
32 |
31 |
South Africa |
28.3 |
38 |
Algeria |
27.4 |
40 |
Tunisia |
26.9 |
45 |
Morocco |
26.1 |
114 |
Botswana |
18.8 |
119 |
Namibia |
17.2 |
122 |
Lesotho |
16.6 |
124 |
Eswatini |
16.5 |
126 |
Zimbabwe |
15.5 |
127 |
Gabon |
15 |
130 |
Seychelles |
14 |
131 |
Djibouti |
13.5 |
132 |
Mauritania |
12.7 |
133 |
Sao Tome And Principe |
12.4 |
134 |
Cabo Verde |
11.8 |
135 |
Cameroon |
11.4 |
136 |
Ghana |
10.9 |
137 |
Mauritius |
10.8 |
138 |
Cote D'ivoire |
10.3 |
139 |
The Gambia |
10.3 |
141 |
Liberia |
9.9 |
142 |
Benin |
9.6 |
143 |
Republic of the Congo |
9.6 |
144 |
Guinea-Bissau |
9.5 |
145 |
Nigeria |
8.9 |
146 |
Senegal |
8.8 |
147 |
Sierra Leone |
8.6 |
149 |
Mali |
8.6 |
151 |
Tanzania |
8.4 |
152 |
Togo |
8.4 |
153 |
Somalia |
8.3 |
154 |
Angola |
8.1 |
155 |
Zambia |
8.1 |
156 |
Equatorial Guinea |
8 |
157 |
Comoros |
7.8 |
158 |
Guinea |
7.7 |
159 |
Central African Republic |
7.5 |
160 |
Mozambique |
7.2 |
161 |
Kenya |
7.1 |
164 |
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
6.7 |
165 |
South Sudan |
6.6 |
166 |
Sudan |
6.6 |
170 |
Chad |
6.1 |
173 |
Malawi |
5.8 |
174 |
Rwanda |
5.8 |
175 |
Burkina Faso |
5.6 |
177 |
Niger |
5.5 |
178 |
Burundi |
5.4 |
180 |
Madagascar |
5.3 |
181 |
Uganda |
5.3 |
183 |
Eritrea |
5 |
185 |
Ethiopia |
4.5 |
Together we build awareness that boost harmony, education, and success, below are more links to articles you will find thought provoking.
-
African Country Names Your Saying Wrong
-
What do Waist Beads Symbolize in Africa?
-
About African Healers and Witchdoctors
-
Hurricanes are Angry African Ancestors
-
Highest Temperature and Lowest Temperature in Africa
-
About African Night Running
Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.
Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.
Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.
Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.
Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.
This Week’s Best Posts and Pages
From Jollof to Injera: A Journey Through African Food Culture Africa is a vast continent larger than Europe, Antarctica, and Australia combined. Africa is also larger than North and South America combined. With a continent that large with a diverse range of cultures and food no most popular food is the favorite food throughout Africa. The ingredients and recipes of the cuisine varies greatly from region to region in Africa. However, if we must choose, five of the most popular African dishes are Jollof rice, Tagine, Injera, Bobotie and Ndolé. Jollof Rice is a spicy and flavorful dish made with rice, tomatoes, onions, and a variety of spices. It is a staple dish in West Africa and is often served with chicken, beef, or fish. Tagine is a slow-cooked stew of meat, vegetables, and spices that is a popular dish in North Africa. It is typically served with couscous or bread. Injera is a sourdough flatbread that is a staple in Ethiopian cuisine. It is typically served with stews or curries
Popular Bike riding routes in The Gambia Africa. Bike riding is a popular activity in The Gambia, with many locals and tourists enjoying the experience of cycling through the country's beautiful scenery. The Gambia is a relatively small country in West Africa and its flat terrain makes it an ideal place for cycling. There are several routes in The Gambia that are popular with cyclists. One of the most scenic is the coastal road that runs from the capital city of Banjul to the Senegalese border. This road offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and passes through several fishing villages and towns. Abuko Nature Reserve is a popular destination for nature lovers, and a bike tour is a great way to explore the reserve's flora and fauna. The reserve is home to many species of birds, monkeys, reptiles, and other wildlife. The tour takes you through the reserve's trails and provides an opportunity to see the wildlife up close. Fathala Wildlife Reserve is located just acros
How to make the popular African recipes Ugali and Fufu and what is the difference. Ugali is a starch dish in Kenya and Tanzania made of fine cornmeal cooked in boiling water into a soft dough. Fufu is a thick, dough-like West African food made by boiling then pounding a starchy vegetable such as yam, plantain, or cassava or a mixture of starchy vegetables. The main difference between fufu and ugali is fufu is boiled first then pounded while ugali is simply boiled. Ugali recipe. Easy Ugali Recipe Prep time 5 minutes Cook time 30 minutes Total time 30 minutes Ingredients 4 cups finely ground cornmeal 8 cups water Directions Heat water to boiling in a saucepan. Slowly pour cornmeal into boiling water stirring continuously. Add more cornmeal if necessary until it is thick as soft bread dough. Serve immediately with vegetables, stew, or any dish you would use a spoon with to soak up the sauce, ugali is purposely bland tasting on its own. What is the difference between ugali and
Exploring the Timeless Charm and Cultural Significance of the Medina of Marrakech. Medina of Marrakech was founded in 1062 by the Almoravid dynasty famous for its traditional markets. The Medina of Marrakech is the largest and most famous city in Morocco and contains many traditional markets in Jemaa el-Fnaa square. With thousands of vendors selling everything from textiles to ceramics to food, The Medina of Marrakech is a historic walled city located in the heart of Marrakech, Morocco and is considered one of the most important cultural and historical landmarks in Morocco. The Medina is surrounded by walls and is divided into a maze of narrow streets, alleys, and squared. It’s walls were built in the 12th century by the Almohad dynasty. The wall is made of red sandstone and stretches for about 19 kilometers, enclosing an area of approximately 600 hectares. The wall has numerous gates, including the famous Bab Agnaou, Bab Doukkala, Bab el Khemis, Bab el Robb, Bab er-Raha, and Bab A