In this article, we will look into the 20 most fit countries in the world. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Most Fit Countries in the World.
According to the WHO, the worldwide prevalence of obesity and overweight tripled between 1975 and 2016. While some countries proved to be fit, with a significant portion of their population exhibiting normal weight, a substantial portion of the world’s population still struggles with the repercussions of being overweight and underweight.
Obesity has become a worldwide issue, with over 1.9 billion adults classified as overweight or obese in 2016. On the other hand, a staggering 462 million adults were reported to be underweight in 2016. These alarming statistics emphasize the burgeoning role of the health and wellness industry in promoting fitness and addressing concerns such as obesity and malnutrition worldwide.
Health and Wellness Industry
According to a report by Precedence Research, the global health and wellness market was worth $5.24 trillion in 2022. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2023 to 2032 and reach $8.95 trillion in 2032. The growth is driven by rising consumer spending on health and wellness products and services. Some of the factors influencing the growth include the burden of physical and mental diseases, rising personal disposable income, increased awareness regarding health and wellness, government expenditure on healthcare infrastructure, growing demand for healthy products, increased awareness of personal hygiene, sedentary lifestyles, and rising prevalence of chronic diseases. The integration of technology into the health and wellness market has led to the advent of fitness bands, trackers, and other digital devices.
The prevalence of chronic diseases is a key market driver. These chronic diseases are usually caused due to exposure to unhealthy habits including lack of exercise, tobacco use, and unhealthy diet among others. Regular exercise and physical activity can enhance our health, physical fitness, and quality of life. It lowers the risk of mortality and chronic diseases. The health and wellness industry continuously integrates technology into its products and services to enhance the consumer experience, by providing them with top-notch services. One example is the wearable technology being developed to monitor health such as an artificial pancreas. It automatically releases insulin and monitors blood sugar levels for people with diabetes.
Aligning with the evolving demand for wearable technologies, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) launched the Google Pixel Watch in 2022 with the integration of its top-notch technology and Fitbit’s best health and fitness features. On October 7, the company launched a new model of the watch, the Google Pixel Watch 2, developed with advanced and improved features. It provides faster performance and better heart rate tracking service than any other wearable on the market.
Major Players in the Industry
Some of the major companies leading the health and wellness market include Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), and Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN). Let’s discuss some business updates from all of them.
On November 8, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) announced that the FDA has approved its weight loss and management injection, Zepbound which is designed to activate hormone receptors that have been proven to be effective for obesity treatment. The drug was studied in two clinical trials. Both trials exhibited positive results, with people taking Zepbound losing a significant amount of weight. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) will make the injection available by the end of 2023 in the US and it will be sold for $1,059.87.
Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN) is a leading company that specializes in health and fitness technology. On October 17, Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN) announced the expansion of its ECG app to the epix Pro series, fēnix 7 Pro series, the Venu 3 series, and tactix 7 – AMOLED Edition smartwatches. The app was initially launched in January 2023. It allows users to record their heart rhythms and enables them to check for signs of arterial fibrillation. The ECG app can help customers make informed decisions about their health and fitness goals and identify any potential problems early on.
Lack of physical activity can lead to obesity which in turn can strain the heart and lead to potential damage to blood vessels, contributing to elevated blood pressure. Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) is a leading medical devices company working to solve this problem. On October 24, Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) announced that the Medtronic Symplicity Spyral renal denervation system has been approved by the FDA in the US. The renal denervation system utilizes radio frequency to control overactive nerves in the kidney and also help lower blood pressure. The manufacturing of the BP control device is already underway for distribution in the US.
Now, that we have talked about the health and wellness industry and discussed the prominent companies in the market, let’s have a look at the 20 most fit countries in the world.
20 Most Fit Countries in the World
Methodology
To rank the 20 most fit countries in the world, we utilized life expectancy, the prevalence of the overweight population, and the prevalence of the underweight population. We sourced our life expectancy data from the World Bank and our BMI distribution (prevalence of underweight and overweight) data from the World Health Organization.
First, we sorted our list on the basis of life expectancy, recognizing the positive correlation between fitness prevalence in the country and its life expectancy. Countries with a higher life expectancy tend to be more fit as compared to the ones with a lower life expectancy. This resulted in an initial list of around 80 countries. Then, we employed the BMI distribution indicators to refine our list. We then calculated the total unfit population by summing the underweight and overweight prevalence in each country. Finally, we ranked the countries in descending order of the total percentage of unfit population.
20 Most Fit Countries in the World
20. Denmark
Life Expectancy (2021): 81.4 years
Overweight Population (2016): 55.4%
Underweight Population (2016): 2.0%
Total Unfit Population: 57.4%
Denmark is ranked among the most fit countries in the world with a life expectancy of 81.4 years, as reported by the World Bank. According to the WHO, over 40% of the population in Denmark was reported to be fit in 2016.
19. Estonia
Life Expectancy (2021): 76.7 years
Overweight Population (2016): 55.8
Underweight Population (2016): 1.5%
Total Unfit Population: 57.4
According to the World Bank, Estonia boasted a life expectancy of 76.7 years in 2021. According to the WHO, Estonia reported an overweight prevalence of 55.8% and an underweight prevalence of 1.5% in 2016, making its total unfit population 57.4%. According to this data, over 40% of adults in Estonia are considered fit. It is ranked 19th on our list.
18. Ecuador
Life Expectancy (2021): 73.6 years
Overweight Population (2016): 56.0%
Underweight Population (2016): 1.2%
Total Unfit Population: 57.2%
Ecuador is ranked among the most fit countries in the world with a life expectancy of 73.6 years. According to the WHO, 42.8% of adults were reported to be fit in 2016.
17. Switzerland
Life Expectancy (2021): 83.8 years
Overweight Population (2016): 54.3%
Underweight Population (2016): 2.1%
Total Unfit Population: 56.4%
Switzerland ranks 17th on our list, reporting a life expectancy of 83.8 years. As of 2016, 43.6% of adults in Switzerland were reported to be fit according to the WHO.
16. Austria
Life Expectancy (2021): 81.2 years
Overweight Population (2016): 54.3%
Underweight Population (2016): 1.9%
Total Unfit Population: 56.2%
Austria is ranked among the most fit countries in the world with a life expectancy of 81.2 years. According to the WHO, 43.8% of adults were reported to be fit in 2016.
15. Grenada
Life Expectancy (2021): 74.9 years
Overweight Population (2016): 51.4%
Underweight Population (2016): 3.9%
Total Unfit Population: 55.3%
According to the World Bank, Grenada had a life expectancy of 74.9 years in 2021. According to the WHO, Grenada reported an overweight prevalence of 51.4% and an underweight prevalence of 3.9% in 2016, making its total unfit population 55.3%. According to this data, around 45% of adults in Grenada are considered fit. It is ranked 15th on our list.
14. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Life Expectancy (2021): 75.3 years
Overweight Population (2016): 53.3%
Underweight Population (2016): 1.6%
Total Unfit Population: 54.9%
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 14th on our list, reporting a life expectancy of 75.3 years. As of 2016, around 45% of adults in Bosnia and Herzegovina were reported to be fit according to the WHO.
13. Serbia
Life Expectancy (2021): 72.7 years
Overweight Population (2016): 52.1%
Underweight Population (2016): 1.8%
Total Unfit Population: 53.9%
According to the World Bank, Serbia had a life expectancy of 72.7 years in 2021. According to the WHO, Serbia reported an overweight prevalence of 52.1% and an underweight prevalence of 1.8% in 2016, making its total unfit population 53.9%. According to this data, over 45% of adults in Serbia are considered fit. It is ranked 13th on our list.
12. Malaysia
Life Expectancy (2021): 84.0 years
Overweight Population (2016): 42.5%
Underweight Population (2016): 6.6%
Total Unfit Population: 49.1%
Malaysia is ranked 12th on our list, reporting a life expectancy of 73.6 years. According to the WHO, around 50% of adults in Malaysia were reported to be fit in 2016.
11. Brunei
Life Expectancy (2021): 74.6 years
Overweight Population (2016): 41.2%
Underweight Population (2016): 6.1%
Total Unfit Population: 47.3%
Brunei ranks 11th on our list, reporting a life expectancy of 74.6 years. As of 2016, over half of adults in Brunei were reported to be fit according to the WHO.
10. Cabo Verde
Life Expectancy (2021): 74.1 years
Overweight Population (2016): 34.8%
Underweight Population (2016): 7.8%
Total Unfit Population: 42.6%
Cabo Verde is ranked among the most fit countries in the world with a life expectancy of 74.1 years. According to the WHO, over 55% of its adults were reported to be fit in 2016.
9. Thailand
Life Expectancy (2021): 78.7 years
Overweight Population (2016): 32.6%
Underweight Population (2016): 8.6%
Total Unfit Population: 41.2%
Thailand ranks 9th on our list, reporting a life expectancy of 78.7 years. As of 2016, 58.8% of adults in Thailand were reported to be fit according to the WHO.
8. Mauritius
Life Expectancy (2021): 73.6 years
Overweight Population (2016): 32.3%
Underweight Population (2016): 8.1%
Total Unfit Population: 40.4%
Mauritius is ranked 8th on our list, reporting a life expectancy of 73.6 years. According to the WHO, around 60% of adults in Mauritius were reported to be fit in 2016.
7. Maldives
Life Expectancy (2021): 79.9 years
Overweight Population (2016): 30.6%
Underweight Population (2016): 9.2%
Total Unfit Population: 39.8%
According to the World Bank, Maldives boasted a life expectancy of 79.9 years in 2021. According to the WHO, Maldives reported an overweight prevalence of 30.6% and an underweight prevalence of 9.2% in 2016, making its total unfit population 39.8%. According to this data, around 60% of its population is considered fit. It is ranked 7th on our list.
6. Singapore
Life Expectancy (2021): 83.4 years
Overweight Population (2016): 31.8%
Underweight Population (2016): 6.2%
Total Unfit Population: 38.0%
Singapore is ranked among the most fit countries in the world with a life expectancy of 83.4 years. According to the WHO, 62% of adults were reported to be fit in 2016.
Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Fit Countries in the World.
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Disclosure. None. The 20 Most Fit Countries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
