Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Obesity Update OECD
Obesity Update OECD
June 2014
The majority of the population, and one in five children, are overweight or obese in the OECD area.
A nearly tenfold variation in rates of obesity and overweight is observed across OECD countries. The
obesity epidemic has spread further in the past five years, but rates have been increasing at a slower pace
than before. Obesity and overweight have been virtually stable, or have grown modestly, in Canada,
England, Italy, Korea, Spain and the United States, but have increased by a further 2-3% in Australia,
France, Mexico and Switzerland. The economic crisis is likely to have contributed to further growth in
obesity. Social disparities in obesity persist, and have increased in some countries.
A growing number of countries have adopted policies to prevent obesity from spreading further. Mexico,
for instance, has launched one of the most comprehensive government strategies to address the problem
in 2013, including awareness-raising, health care, regulatory and fiscal measures. Several countries have
developed multi-stakeholder frameworks, involving business and civil society actors in the development of
public health policies. Evaluations of the effectiveness of these initiatives are only beginning to emerge.
3.6
4.6
10
10.3
10.4
11.8
12
12.4
13.4
13.8
14.5
14.7
15.4
15.7
15.8
15.8
15.8
16
16
16.6
16.9
18.3
18.4
19
19.6
21
21
22.3
22.7
23
24.7
25.1
25.4
28.3
28.5
31.3
32.4
35.3
40
30
20
10
% of population aged 15 years and over
2.8
1.3
3.6
1.1
3.4
2.4
3.4
3.8
4.7
4.4
9
India
Indonesia
China
Japan
Korea
Norway
Switzerland
Italy
Sweden
Netherlands
Austria
Denmark
Belgium
France
Germany
Portugal
Israel
Finland
Poland
Brazil
Russian Fed
South Africa
Spain
Slovak Rep
Slovenia
OECD (34)
Estonia
Greece
Czech Rep
Iceland
Turkey
Luxembourg
Ireland
United Kingdom
Chile
Canada
Australia
Hungary
New Zealand
Mexico
United States
2.1
2.4
2.9
Self-reported data
Measured data
Women
Men
11
9.4
11.2
9.5
11.3
11.8
11.7
12.8
11.2
12.7
12
13.1
13.7
14.4
13.1
14.6
14.5
13.8
15.7
16.1
14.6
15.7
15.7
15.7
16.1
15.2
16.6
16
11.8
15.6
20.1
27.4
8.8
15.6
17.5
16.7
17.1
15.4
21.1
18.7
17.9
19.3
18.5
18.6
17.7
21
21
19.3
22.7
29.2
15.3
21
24.1
24
22
25.1
19.2
24.6
24.4
30.7
26.2
28.2
28.4
30.4
26.3
32.2
30.3
37.5
26.8
36.6
33.9
10
20
30
40
Note: The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the
OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of
international law.
Source: OECD (2014), OECD Health Statistics 2014, forthcoming, www.oecd.org/health/healthdata.
30%
Australia
Mexico
Rate of obesity
25%
Canada
20%
15%
Spain
England
USA
France
10%
Italy
5%
0%
1972
Korea
Switzerland
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
Year
Note: Age- and gender-adjusted rates of obesity and overweight, 2005 OECD standard population. Measured height and weight in Australia, England,
Korea, Mexico and the United States; self-reported in other countries. No projections were produced in 2010 for Australia, Mexico and Switzerland.
Source: OECD analysis of health survey data.
Figure 4. Measured overweight (including obesity) among children aged 5-17, 2010 or nearest year
Source: International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2013; Bs et al. (2004), Universitt Karlsruhe and Ministres de lEducation nationale
et de la Sant for Luxembourg; and KNHANES 2011 for Korea.
Obesity rate
Low education
Medium
England
Low education
High education
40%
40%
30%
30%
20%
20%
10%
10%
0%
Medium
0%
1994-95
2011-12
1994-95
Men
2011-12
1991
2011
Women
Low education
Medium
1991
Men
2011
Women
France
Obesity rate
High education
Italy
Low education
High education
40%
40%
30%
30%
20%
20%
10%
10%
0%
Medium
High education
0%
1990
2010
1990
Men
2010
2001
2012
Women
Medium
2012
Women
Mexico
Low education
2001
Men
Spain
High education
Low education
Medium
High education
40%
40%
Obesity rate
Obesity rate
30%
30%
20%
20%
10%
10%
0%
0%
2006
2012
2006
Men
2012
2001
Women
Switzerland
Low education
Medium
2011
2001
Men
2011
Women
United States
Low education
High education
Medium
High education
40%
40%
Obesity rate
Obesity rate
30%
20%
10%
30%
20%
10%
0%
0%
1992
2012
Men
1992
2012
Women
1999
2011
Men
1999
2011
Women
Note: Adjusted probabilities of obesity for men and women, at age 40, controlling for ethnicity, marital status, tobacco smoking and working status.
Source: OECD estimates based on national health surveys.
Key points
The majority of the population, and one in five children, are overweight or obese in the OECD area. A nearly
tenfold variation is observed across OECD countries, but existing data may not fully reflect the extent of the
epidemic.
The obesity epidemic has spread further in the past five years, but rates have been increasing at a slower pace
than before. Obesity and overweight have been virtually stable in England, Italy, Korea, and the United States, but
have increased in Australia, Canada, France, Mexico, Spain, and Switzerland.
People with less education and lower socio-economic status are more likely to be obese, and the gap is
generally larger in women. All education groups have seen an increase in obesity in recent years. The latest
data show that social disparities persist, and have increased in some countries.
A growing number of countries have adopted policies to prevent obesity from spreading further. Mexico has
launched one of the most comprehensive government strategies to address the problem in 2013, including
awareness-raising, health care, regulatory and fiscal measures.
Several countries have developed multi-stakeholder frameworks, involving business and civil society actors in
the development of public health policies. Evaluations of the effectiveness of these initiatives are only
beginning to emerge.
Contacts
OECD Media office
Spencer Wilson
+33-1-4524 8118
spencer.wilson@oecd.org
OECD Health Division
Marion Devaux Statistician
marion.devaux@oecd.org
Michele Cecchini Health Policy Analyst
+33-1-4524 7857
michele.cecchini@oecd.org
This paper is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and the arguments employed herein
do not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD member countries.
This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of
international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.