Examines how the BMI came to be our primary measurement of body weight, and how it has prevailed as a measurement for health risks, despite evidence that it may not be the best method.
The global epidemic of overweight and obesity - "globesity" - is rapidly becoming a major public health problem in many parts of the world. Paradoxically coexisting with undernutrition in developing countries, the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity is associated with many diet-related chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension and certain cancers.
This database provides both national and sub-national adult underweight, overweight and obesity prevalence rates by country, year of survey and gender. The information is presented interactively as maps, tables, graphs and downloadable documents. These can be accessed by clicking on the respective tabs above; then the data can be displayed after selecting the country, year and indicator