Overweight and obesity in adults (Indicator 14)
Updated
The indicator describes the following: Prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults.
This indicator is part of Target (7): Halt the rise in diabetes and obesity.
To find out the percentage with overweight and obesity, height and weight measurements of the general population must be taken. This is done in the Health Surveys in Tromsø and Nord-Trøndelag. Body mass index is used as a measure of overweight and obesity and is defined as weight/height2. The threshold for overweight is a BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m2. The threshold for obesity is a BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2.
Results
The prevalence of adults with overweight and obesity has increased during the period with available measurements between the mid-1980s and up to today. The strongest increase was seen up to around 2008, thereafter the trend has somewhat attenuated up to 2016/2019. This is explained by the fact that the proportion with obesity has increased while the proportion with overweight appears to be more stable. This is shown by the height and weight measurements taken from the population in Tromsø and Nord Trøndelag.
Figure 1: Proportion of men aged 20 and older with overweight and obesity in Nord Trøndelag, as a percentage, age-standardised. Overweight is defined as a BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m2. Obesity is defined as a BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Source: Health Survey in Nord Trøndelag (HUNT). See table below.
|
|
1984–86 |
1995–97 |
2006–08 |
2017-19 |
|
Overweight |
41.4 |
49.5 |
49.9 |
46.1 |
|
Obesity |
7.5 |
13.8 |
21.1 |
23.1 |
|
Overweight and obesity |
48.9 |
63.3 |
71.0 |
69.3 |
Figure 2: Proportion of women aged 20 and older with overweight and obesity in Nord Trøndelag, as a percentage, age-standardised. Overweight is defined as a BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m2. Obesity is defined as a BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Source: Health Survey in Nord Trøndelag (HUNT). See table below.
|
|
1984–86 |
1995–97 |
2006–08 |
2017-19 |
|
Overweight |
29.0 |
36.3 |
35.7 |
34.6 |
|
Obesity |
12.5 |
17.7 |
22.0 |
23.2 |
|
Overweight and obesity |
41.5 |
54.0 |
57.7 |
57.9 |
Figure 3: Proportion of men aged 40-79 with overweight and obesity in Tromsø, as a percentage, age-standardised. Overweight is defined as a BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m2. Obesity is defined as a BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Source: Tromsø Study. See table below.
|
|
2007–08 |
2015–16 |
|
Overweight |
51.2 |
50.8 |
|
Obesity |
20.2 |
25.5 |
|
Overweight and obesity |
71.4 |
76.3 |
Figure 4: Proportion of women aged 40-79 with overweight and obesity in Tromsø, as a percentage, age-standardised. Overweight is defined as a BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m2. Obesity is defined as a BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Source: Tromsø Study. See table below.
|
|
2007–08 |
2015–16 |
|
Overweight |
38.0 |
37.0 |
|
Obesity |
19.5 |
23.0 |
|
Overweight and obesity |
57.5 |
60.0 |
Data sources
The data sources for this indicator are the Tromsø Study and HUNT.
A description and definitions follow below.
Data source: Tromsø Study
Description
The Tromsø Study started in 1974 and consists of repeated health checks on Tromsø municipality’s population. The last two studies are particularly relevant to the period WHO would like Member States to report on: 2010-2025. Tromsø 6 (2007-2008) included almost 13 000 adults between the ages of 30 and 87, and had an attendance rate of 63 per cent. Tromsø 7 (2015-2016) included more than 21 000 adults aged 40 and older, and had an attendance rate of 65 per cent.
Effect measure
- The prevalence of overweight within 10-year age groups of men and women, as a percentage.
- The prevalence of obesity within 10-year age groups of men and women, as a percentage.
Overweight is defined as a BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m2. Obesity is defined as a BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Body mass index is defined as:
weight in kilograms / (height in metres)2.
The data are age-standardised to the age distribution of the Norwegian population as of 1 January 2000.
Interpretation and sources of error
The proportion of individuals attending health checks has gradually declined over time. The figures and tables we present do not include any assessment of the implications of changes in the attendance rate.
Data source: Health Survey in Nord Trøndelag (HUNT)
Description
The Health Survey in Nord Trøndelag (HUNT) began with HUNT1 in 1984-86 and consists of repeated health checks performed on the population of Nord Trøndelag county. The last two studies are particularly relevant to the period WHO would like Member States to report on: 2010-2025. HUNT2 (1995-97) covered over 65,000 individuals aged 20 and older and had an attendance rate of 70 per cent. HUNT3 (2006-08) covered over 51000 individuals aged 20 and older and had an attendance rate of 54 per cent. HUNT4 (2017-2019) covered over 56 000 individuals aged 20 and older and had an attendance rate of 54 per cent.
Effect measure
- Prevalence of overweight among men and women aged 20 and older, as a percentage.
- Prevalence of obesity among men and women aged 20 and older, as a percentage.
Overweight is defined as a BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m2. Obesity is defined as a BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Body mass index is calculated based on:
weight in kilograms / (height in metres)2.
The data are age-standardised to the age distribution of the Norwegian population as of 1 January 2000.
Interpretation and sources of error
The proportion of individuals attending health checks has gradually declined over time. The figures and tables we present do not include any assessment of the possible implications of changes in the attendance rate.
Global indicator definition
WHO’s definition of the indicator
Indicator 14. Age-standardised prevalence of overweight and obesity among persons aged 18+ years.