🇸🇳 Sénégal 🌍 WHO 🌏 Asia-Pacific 🇯🇵 Japan
BMI Calculator — Sénégal
Body Mass Index · WHO Standard · Sénégal Health Statistics
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WHO normal BMI: 18.5–24.9. In Sénégal, 8.3% of adults are obese and 28.5% are overweight or obese (WHO 2022 Global Health Observatory). Sénégal uses the WHO BMI standard. The Ministère de la Santé et de l'Action Sociale du Sénégal publishes these statistics nationally. Le Sénégal fait face à un double fardeau nutritionnel : malnutrition dans les zones rurales et hausse de l'obésité dans les villes de Dakar et Thiès.
Weight / Height · Metric (kg/cm) · Imperial (lbs/ft)
BMI Classification — Sénégal & International
| Category / Normal | 🌍 WHO | 🌏 Asia-Pacific | 🇯🇵 Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underweight | < 18.5 | < 18.5 | < 18.5 |
| Normal weight | 18.5 – 24.9 | 18.5 – 22.9 | 18.5 – 24.9 |
| Overweight | 25 – 29.9 | 23 – 27.4 | ≥ 25 (Obese) |
| Obese | ≥ 30 | ≥ 27.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the obesity rate in Sénégal? ▾
8.3% of adults in Sénégal are classified as obese and 28.5% are overweight or obese per WHO 2022 Global Health Observatory data. Le Sénégal fait face à un double fardeau nutritionnel : malnutrition dans les zones rurales et hausse de l'obésité dans les villes de Dakar et Thiès. The Ministère de la Santé et de l'Action Sociale du Sénégal monitors these figures through national health and nutrition surveys.
What BMI standard does Sénégal use? ▾
Sénégal follows the WHO standard (normal 18.5–24.9, overweight 25–29.9, obese ≥30). The Ministère de la Santé et de l'Action Sociale du Sénégal applies these thresholds in national clinical guidelines and public health campaigns. Unlike parts of Asia which use lower cut-offs, the standard WHO thresholds reflect the original research on European and North American populations.
Is BMI an accurate measure for people in Sénégal? ▾
BMI is a widely used population screening tool in Sénégal but it has well-known limitations: it does not distinguish between muscle and fat, and cannot capture fat distribution — abdominal (visceral) fat carries higher cardiovascular risk than fat stored in limbs. The Ministère de la Santé et de l'Action Sociale du Sénégal recommends combining BMI with waist circumference (men: <94 cm, women: <80 cm per WHO) and other clinical indicators for a complete assessment.