Pacific island nations rank among the highest globally in obesity prevalence, with American Samoa leading at 70%. This indicates a particularly severe obesity situation in the region, where many countries continue to record persistently high obesity rates.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN (MERXWIRE) – Global obesity continues to worsen. According to the World Obesity Atlas 2025, the number of people living with obesity and overweight conditions is rising rapidly worldwide. The report projects that by 2030, the number of adults with obesity will reach 1.13 billion, a 115% increase from 2010. The total number of adults who are overweight or obese is expected to reach 3 billion, up from 2 billion in 2015 and 1.6 billion in 2010. It also warns that about 93% of countries lack sufficient healthcare resources to deal with obesity-related health problems.
The World Obesity Federation states that most countries have not established sufficient policies to address the obesity crisis. Around two-thirds of countries have implemented only one of five key obesity prevention measures, or none at all, while only 7% have healthcare systems adequately equipped to manage obesity. Researchers warn that without stronger public health policies, the global obesity crisis may continue to accelerate.
Data show that around 1.6 million people die prematurely each year from non-communicable diseases linked to obesity and overweight, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke. This exceeds global road traffic fatalities. Countries have also failed to meet international targets to curb rising obesity and diabetes rates or reduce deaths from non-communicable diseases, highlighting the severity of the issue.
In addition, the global economic cost of obesity and overweight has exceeded USD 4.32 trillion annually, accounting for nearly 3% of global GDP. These costs include healthcare spending, medication, and surgery, as well as indirect losses from reduced productivity, labor force decline, and premature deaths, placing long-term pressure on national economies and social development.
Global Adult Obesity Ranking（BMI ≥ 30kg/m²）
| Rank | Country | Obesity Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Samoa | 70.29 |
| 2 | Nauru | 69.65 |
| 3 | Tokelau | 67.05 |
| 4 | Cook Islands | 66.05 |
| 5 | Niue | 63.71 |
| 6 | Tonga | 63.37 |
| 7 | Tuvalu | 57.73 |
| 8 | Samoa | 52.83 |
| 9 | French Polynesia | 47.02 |
| 10 | United States | 41.64 |
The top ten countries and territories in terms of adult obesity rates are: American Samoa at 70.29%, Nauru at 69.65%, Tokelau at 67.05%, the Cook Islands at 66.05%, Niue at 63.71%, Tonga at 63.37%, Tuvalu at 57.73%, Samoa at 52.83%, French Polynesia at 47.02%, and the United States at 41.64%. It is noteworthy that the United States is the most populous country among the top ten, reflecting that obesity is not limited to small island nations but is a global public health issue.
The data also show that some developed countries have relatively high obesity rates, such as Qatar at 40.79%, Kuwait at 38.88%, Saudi Arabia at 38.13%, Australia at 32.05%, Canada at 28.16%, and the United Kingdom at 26.94%. In contrast, obesity rates in Asia are generally lower, with Taiwan at 12.44%, China at 8.94%, South Korea at 8.82%, and Japan at 7.63%, indicating regional differences.
Among the countries with the lowest obesity rates, Vietnam ranks lowest globally at 1.97%, followed by Rwanda at 1.84%, Timor-Leste at 1.58%, and Ethiopia at 1.10%. The World Obesity Federation notes that the global obese population will continue to increase; without adequate policies, healthcare preparedness, and health promotion measures, countries will face increasingly severe health and economic burdens in the future. Obesity prevention has become an issue that cannot be ignored worldwide.
