When we hear about countries with residents who are predominantly thin, it’s easy to assume that this reflects a healthy population, especially in the United States where obesity is a widespread problem.
However, there’s a significant catch: except for two nations on the list, a slim figure doesn’t necessarily equate to healthiness.
In many cases, low obesity rates are linked to widespread poverty and hunger rather than good health and diet.
WorldAtlas conducted an analysis of global obesity rates by nation to determine the ten thinnest countries. Here’s what they found:
1: Vietnam
Vietnam ranks as the thinnest country with an obesity rate of just 2.1%. While its population is approximately 100 million, a significant factor contributing to this low rate is poverty, although it has seen a notable drop from 16.8% to 5% between 2010 and 2020.
Additionally, the traditional Vietnamese diet, which is rich in healthy components like vegetables, fish, and soups based on broth, plays a role in maintaining low obesity levels.
2: Bangladesh
Bangladesh follows with an obesity rate of only 3.6%. However, this low rate is linked to rampant malnutrition within the population. About 36% of children under five experience stunted growth due to poor early nutrition.
Furthermore, undernourishment is particularly prevalent among adult women, with approximately one in five having a body mass index (BMI) below 18.5, which is considered underweight.
3: Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, has an obesity rate of 3.8%, only slightly higher than Bangladesh. Similar to Bangladesh, the country faces a severe food supply situation.
Timor-Leste has one of the lowest gross domestic products (GDP) per capita globally, and its struggling economy combined with a challenging political system has resulted in widespread hunger among its citizens.
4: India
Despite its diverse and often rich culinary traditions, India has a low obesity rate of 3.9%, tying for the fourth spot.
A significant issue in India is undernourishment, affecting approximately 16.3% of the population, with millions being underweight.
The primary challenge is often food distribution rather than the actual production of food, as about 70% of rural households depend on farming for their livelihood.
5: Cambodia
Cambodia shares the fourth and fifth rank with India, also reporting a 3.9% obesity rate. A major problem contributing to this is undernutrition, largely stemming from insufficient food production within the country.
The local diet in Cambodia frequently lacks essential nutrients, leading to common deficiencies in substances like zinc, B vitamins, and iodine among the population.
6: Nepal
The landlocked country of Nepal has an obesity rate of 4.1%. According to the information provided, roughly one-third of the Nepalese population lives below the poverty line.
Challenges in agricultural production, combined with political conflicts, make it difficult to cultivate sufficient food resources within the country, contributing to the low obesity rate, which is more indicative of food insecurity.
7: Japan
Japan is one of the key exceptions on this list where low obesity is not primarily due to poverty. With an obesity rate of 4.3%, their slimness is attributed almost entirely to dietary habits.
The Japanese typically consume small meal portions, and their diet is rich in healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, lean protein sources, and various fermented foods, promoting overall lower body weight.
8: Ethiopia
Ethiopia has an obesity rate of 4.5%, however, a considerable portion of the population, 15.8%, is underweight. Food scarcity is a significant issue here, largely driven by severe drought conditions.
The source notes that climate change is exacerbating this already grave problem, indicating that the low obesity rate is closely tied to the challenges of accessing sufficient food rather than reflecting a healthy population.
9: South Korea
South Korea is the second developed nation on this list, alongside Japan. Its obesity rate is 4.7%, slightly higher than Japan’s but still remarkably low compared to most developed countries globally.
The source credits the Korean diet as a major factor for this low rate, characterizing it as focused on whole foods and being low in fat content.
10: Eritrea
Eritrea concludes the list with an obesity rate of 5%; however, this figure is misleading. The reality is that over 66% of Eritreans live below the poverty line and suffer from hunger.
Factors such as conflict (war), persistent drought, and complex political situations that sometimes impede the delivery of international aid have severely impacted the health and nutritional status of the population.
Alicia Richards