A nationwide public health campaign in Turkey has revealed that nearly two-thirds of more than 1.1 million participants were classified as overweight or obese, sparking concern over the country’s growing health crisis amid economic hardship, the Diken news website reported.
According to a statement from the Health Ministry, height and weight measurements were taken from 1,143,189 people between May 10 and 23 as part of an initiative to promote healthy living. Based on Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations, 35.8 percent of participants were found to be overweight and 28.2 percent were classified as obese. Only 31.8 percent fell within the normal weight range, while 4.2 percent were considered underweight.
Gender disparities in weight categories
Data from the second week of the campaign showed notable gender differences. Among men, 41.9 percent were classified as overweight, compared to 30.3 percent of women. However, obesity was more prevalent among women, with 32.1 percent classified as obese, versus 23.8 percent of men.
The ministry said individuals outside the healthy BMI range were referred to state-run Family Health Centers and Healthy Life Centers, where they can receive free nutritional counseling and follow-up services. The campaign aims to reach 10 million people by July 10.
Criticism over policy focus
While the government has described the program as a vital step in combating obesity, critics have raised concerns that it focuses narrowly on individual weight rather than the broader socioeconomic factors that shape public health. These include skyrocketing food prices, limited access to fresh produce and proteins and rising poverty.
Public health experts say unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles have been exacerbated by years of economic turmoil. Many lower-income families in Turkey are increasingly relying on low-cost processed foods that offer little nutritional value.
Turkey has been grappling with double-digit inflation since 2019, peaking at 85.5 percent in October 2022 and currently standing at about 35 percent. The sustained cost-of-living crisis has made it harder for people to meet basic needs such as food, housing and healthcare.