Samoa has one of the world's highest obesity rates, with around 61.2% of adults classified as obese (BMI > 30), and a significant portion of the population being overweight (BMI 25-29), leading to high rates of related conditions like diabetes. Factors contributing to this epidemic include a shift from traditional diets to processed imported foods, urbanization, cultural shifts, and possible genetic predispositions, with women and men both experiencing high prevalence, though rates are higher in women.
58.4% of adult (aged 18 years and over) women and 43.8% of adult men are living with obesity. Samoa's obesity prevalence is higher than the regional average of 31.7% for women and 30.4% for men and among the highest in the world.
Firstly, Genetics play an essential part in shaping Samoans and other Polynesians; their genes make them more prone to building muscle and storing fat - traits which were used as survival strategies during long journeys or periods without much food; so, having larger bodies was actually seen as an advantage by their ...
Results: Obesity prevalence was the highest in non-Hispanic AIAN (44.0%; 95% CI, 38.2%–50.1%), followed by 42.7% (95% CI, 40.5%-44.9%) in non-Hispanic Black adults. Compared to other groups, non-Hispanic Asian adults reported the highest fruit and vegetable intake.
CREBRF variant increases obesity risk and protects against diabetes in Samoans. A genome-wide study in Samoans has identified a protein-altering variant (p. Arg475Gln) in CREBRF as being associated with 1.3-fold increased risk of obesity and, intriguingly, 1.6-fold decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Nutrient transmission (change in diet) is the primary cause of the obesity epidemic in the Pacific Islands, with a high amount of imported foods high in salt and fat content.
Latvian women are the tallest on the planet, with an average height of 170cm. * The top four tallest countries for men are the Netherlands, Belgium, Estonia and Latvia.
Demographic trends
Life expectancy at birth is 67 years for males and 72 for females. About one-third of Samoans are less than 15 years old.
Least Obese Countries by Population:
The right variety and amount of exercise can both reduce body weight and prevent weight regain. In addition, it may improve: Endocrine and immune body responses related to adipose tissue dysfunction, including insulin sensitivity.
The traditional diet in Japan is built around a base of rice and other grains, with plentiful consumption of vegetables and fruits, and also fish, but relatively little animal fat, meat and sweets. In Japan, the presentation of the food is very important, and particular attention is given to the colors and textures.
Nearly 1 in 3 adults in American Samoa has diabetes. These diseases of modernity kill many islanders at a grievously early age. Samoa's devastating public health problems are entangled with food and other cultural practices, as well as with the very genes that have helped Samoans survive for millennia.
In 2019, nearly 1 in 3 deaths in Samoa 🇼🇸 were attributed to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory diseases. This shows the critical need for effective health interventions and increased awareness surrounding non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Samoa and the Pacific.
Samoa: ranking of surnames
The Dutch are the tallest people on earth. Over the last 200 years, they have grown 20 cm in height: a rapid rate of increase that points to environmental causes.
The average height of a woman in India is approximately 5 feet (152 cm). However, this figure can vary depending on the region, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status of the population. Women in certain regions may have an average height that is slightly taller, while in others, the average may be shorter.
Understanding the Unique Height of the Maasai
The average height of Maasai men is around 6 feet tall, while Maasai women are typically around 5'9". These heights are significantly above the global average, making the Maasai stand out in terms of physical stature.
Efficient metabolisms producing rapid adipose-tissue growth could have increased survival among the first Polynesians. Rapid dietary and physical activity changes caused by modernization interacting with such population genetic predispositions may lead to the documented massive adiposity.
Samoa is one of the most obese nations in the world, with 93.5% of the population being overweight (body mass index [BMI] of 25 to 29), and 74.6% being obese (BMI of 30 or greater). In comparison, 73.6% of the United States' population is overweight, while about one-third is obese.
West Virginia topped WalletHub's 2025 ranking of the most overweight and obese states in the U.S., published Nov. 4, while Colorado is the healthiest-weight state.
Life expectancy, in years
The latest value from 2023 is 71.7 years, an increase from 71.55 years in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 73.65 years, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Samoa from 1960 to 2023 is 66.58 years.
Samoans are mainly of Polynesian heritage, and about nine-tenths of the population are ethnic Samoans. Euronesians (people of mixed European and Polynesian ancestry) account for most of the rest of the population, and a tiny fraction are of wholly European heritage.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, including taro and taro leaves, banana and coconut (in all forms), are all staples of Samoan cuisine. Since the islands are surrounded by waters home to diverse marine life, seafood is also a staple.