Samoa’s Expanding Health Challenge
A country where more than half the adult population lives with obesity (Lameko, 2022).
Samoa’s Expanding Health Challenge
A country where more than half the adult population lives with obesity (Lameko, 2022).
Samoa, known for its vibrant beaches and lively culture, also has the highest obesity rates of any country in the world.
As of 2026, the country faces an obesity rate hovering around 75% (World Population Review, 2026).
Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excessive body fat that impairs health (World Health Organization, n.d.). It is commonly assessed using body mass index (BMI), with individuals having a BMI of 25 or higher classified as overweight and those with a BMI of 30 or higher classified as obese.
The issues that come with obesity do not stop at the disease itself. Obesity increases the risk of numerous other health problems, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, high blood pressure, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024).
Obesity sees such rates in Samoa due to a combination of both genetic factors and lifestyle choices.
Culturally, Samoan diets consist of foods rich in fish, fruits and root vegetables. Over the past several decades, imported processed foods high in sugar, fat, and calories have become more common, leading to increased calorie consumption.
Aside from chosen diets, research has shown that Samoans have genetically higher chances in developing obesity (Orenstein, 2016).
Researchers identified a variant of the CREBRF gene (rs373863828) that is present in nearly half of Samoans. This “thrifty” gene helps the body store fat more efficiently and may have been advantageous during periods of food scarcity.
However in today’s world which is full of high calorie foods, such a gene can contribute to a higher BMI.
Today, Samoa has taken steps to help tackle their obesity issue.
Most of the policies put in place have been aimed to target individual behavior when it comes to developing obesity (Lameko, 2022).
Other factors contributing to Samoa’s obesity crisis, such as the importation of inexpensive processed foods, have not been adequately addressed.
Without stronger policy interventions, progress is likely to remain limited. However, steps are still being taken in the right direction.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9012561/
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-obese-countries
https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/php/about/
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