Where Are World’s Fattest People

While the current focus is on Covid-19 pandemic, there are several other health issues that can be equally disastrous. Key among them are lifestyle diseases like obesity. In the Unites States, close to 40% of the population is obese. However, even at that high rate, US does not rank in top ten list of countries with highest number of obese people. It makes us wonder which is the fattest country in the world. Where do you find the highest number of fat people? To answer such questions, here’s a quick look at countries with highest obese people.

Tuvalu – An island country in Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu is almost equidistant from Australia and Hawaii. It is a group of reef islands and atolls. Total land area is around 10 square miles (26 square kilometers). Tuvalu is one of the most obese countries in the world. Around 52% of the population in Tuvalu is obese.

Marshall Islands – Located in Pacific Ocean, Marshall Islands is a group of five islands. The country relies on economic sectors like shipping, agriculture, fishing, and energy for its sustenance. The obesity rate in Marshall Islands is close to 53%.

Palau – Located in western Pacific, Palau is a collection of 340 islands. It is spread across an area of 180 square miles (466 square kilometers). Primary economic sectors are tourism, fishing and subsistence agriculture. Palau is third most obese country in the world with 55.30% obesity rate.

Cook Islands – An island country, Cook Islands is a group of 15 islands located in South Pacific Ocean. The country’s defense and foreign affairs are largely managed by New Zealand. The country relies mainly on tourism to sustain itself. Cook Islands is the second most obese country in the world. Around 56% of its population is obese.

Nauru – An island country located in Central Pacific, Nauru is the world’s third smallest country. It had been occupied by various forces over the years such as Germany, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Japan. It got its independence in 1968. Nauru has the bad reputation of being home to the most obese people in the world. Around 61% of the population of Nauru is said to be obese. The number will be even higher if we add overweight people in Nauru. Due to the obesity pandemic in Nauru, its citizens are experiencing high number of cases of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease.

Obesity pandemic is due to multiple reasons. Key among them are calorie dense food items, lack of physical exercise, and reduced social interactions. Obesity does not only look unsightly, but also results in numerous health issues. This directly impacts the health expenditure of households and the country as well.

The solutions to fight obesity are pretty simple. Eat nutritious food, skip junk foods, exercise regularly and avoid stress. The right choices will help you live a better, healthier life.