• Approximately 39% of adults in Jordan have obesity; and about 60% are classified as having obesity and / or overweight.
• "Obesity is a heavy burden on Jordan health system and also contributes to climate change."

This year, World Obesity Day coincides with the holy month of Ramadan. Fasting is a valuable opportunity to acquire healthy habits that can lead to weight loss for those suffering from obesity and being overweight, and to quit the use of tobacco in all its forms, which is another factor threatening health.

Overweight and obesity in individuals are measured using an indicator called "Body Mass Index (BMI)"; which is simply the result of dividing a person's weight into kilograms by the square of their height in meters. If the result falls between 25-29, the person is classified as being overweight. If the result is 30 or more, the person is classified as having obesity.

The 2024 Global Nutrition Report indicates that obesity represents one of the most prominent health challenges in Jordan, showing high prevalence rates compared to regional averages. It reported that approximately 46% of adult women and about 32% of adult men in Jordan suffer from obesity[1], while around 60% of adults are affected by overweight and/or obesity. This reflects a significant health burden on the Jordanian health system.

The results of the 2023 Jordan Population and Family Health Survey[2] align with what global reports indicate about obesity. They showed a clear increase in the proportion of women of reproductive age who suffer from obesity and/or overweight, reaching (35.4%) among women in the age group 15-19, rising to 64.1% among women in the age group 20-49, and reaching 83.6% among older women in the age group 40-49 years. This is a significant indicator of the transmission of health risks across age stages.

The proportion of children suffering from obesity reaches 10% among children whose mothers suffer from obesity or overweight, compared to 5% among children whose mothers have a normal weight, and 4% among children of underweight mothers. Additionally, the data show a clear economic gradient, as the percentage of children classified as having obesity increases with the family's level of welfare, rising from 7% among the lowest welfare brackets to 13% among the highest welfare brackets.

World Obesity Day 2026 carries the theme of advocating for obesity to be recognized as a chronic disease requiring comprehensive understanding and multi-level systematic interventions, rather than merely a personal choice or a lack of will. This is because obesity increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory problems, and certain types of cancer. It can also affect mental health, leading to issues such as depression and low self-esteem, in addition to its potential impacts on fertility and the sexual and reproductive health of both women and men[3].

In the Jordanian context, studies show that high obesity rates are also linked to social and economic factors such as urbanization, low physical activity, the spread of high-calorie foods, and contemporary work patterns. The rise in obesity has been accompanied by an increase in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which reinforces the view of obesity as a major determinant of public health, rather than an isolated condition[4].

Published global studies have shown that obesity has an impact on the environment and climate change. This impact stems from the excessive food consumption of individuals with obesity, their higher metabolic rates, and their increased use of fuel due to greater reliance on transportation instead of walking. All of this contributes to greenhouse gas emissions that cause environmental warming and climate change.

The high prevalence of obesity represents a challenge that extends beyond the health sector to encompass developmental and social dimensions. Obesity is a major factor in increasing the disease burden associated with chronic conditions, which in turn affects economic productivity, healthcare costs, and quality of life. From this standpoint, the role of national bodies concerned with population and health policies, such as the Higher Population Council, emerges in integrating nutrition and health issues into national sustainable development strategies. The role of the Higher Population Council lies in its ability to link health indicators to the broader demographic context, thereby contributing to guiding national policies towards a more comprehensive and evidence-based response. The Council's role is not limited to analyzing demographic and health data but extends to promoting integration among different sectors and developing policy approaches that consider variations related to age, sex, geographical location, and economic status.

The foregoing data calls for health policies to move from focusing on individual responsibility to addressing the structural factors that influence individuals' choices and health behaviors. Success in confronting the health challenge of obesity depends on shifting the focus from individuals to addressing the social, economic, and environmental context that determines health patterns in Jordanian society. It also requires encouraging the adoption of healthy lifestyles as a means of preventing obesity and clarifying the health risks of obesity and methods of prevention.