Chapter 3 Additional World Health Assembly Nutrition Indicators
This section assesses progress towards three additional WHA endorsed targets, i.e. exclusive breastfeeding, low birthweight, and adult obesity.
Key messages- In 2016, in the Arab States, obesity among adults 18 years and older was 27.6 percent, more than double the global prevalence of 13.1 percent. Obesity in adults increased significantly in the Arab States between 2000 and 2016 by 10 percentage points. Adult obesity varied by income group with the highest prevalence in high income countries (33.0 percent). The lowest prevalence was in low-income countries (18.1 percent) and Arab States LDCs (11.8 percent).
- In 2012, in the Arab States, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding of infants under six months was 34.6 percent, below the world average of 37.0 percent. Among the subregions the highest rate was in lower-middle-income countries at 39.7 percent and the lowest rate in upper-middle-income countries at 19.9 percent.
- In the Arab States the prevalence of low birthweight was 13.3 percent in 2020, with only marginal decreases in the region and subregions since 2012. The subregions were all below the global estimate, with the highest prevalence in lower-middle-income countries at 13.8 percent, and the lowest prevalence in high-income-countries at 10.7 percent.
