According to a recent publication by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), obesity has spread at “an alarming rate” since the 1980’s. In countries affiliated with OECD, 1 in 2 is overweight and 1 in 6 is obese. Obesity has been more defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a BMI of 30 and above (a BMI of 30 is about 30 pounds overweight). The following table can help you identify your BMI:
This table offers a sample of BMI measurements. For additional height and/or weight options, visit the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute’s complete listing here.
The OECD’s publication listed estimated country obesity rates as follows:
- Japan 3%
- Korea 4%
- Switzerland 8%
- Italy 10%
- Norway 10%
- Sweden 10%
- France 11%
- Denmark 11%
- Netherlands 12%
- Austria 12%
- Poland 13%
- Israel 14%
- Belgium 14%
- Turkey 15%
- Portugal 15%
- Finland 16%
- OECD average 16%
- Germany 16%
- Slovenia 16%
- Slovak Rep. 17%
- Czech Rep. 17%
- Spain 17%
- Greece 18%
- Hungary 19%
- Luxembourg 20%
- Iceland 20%
- Chile 22%
- Ireland 23%
- Canada 24%
- UK 25%
- Australia 25%
- New Zealand 27%
- USA 28%
- Mexico 30%
In some countries this rate is projected to increase by an additional 1% per year for the next 10 years.
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