The Dominican Republic is grappling with one of the most pressing public health crises of recent decades, with newly released data showing that over 70% of the country’s adult population is now classified as overweight or obese.
The alarming figures were presented by the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) at the International Forum on “Public Policies for the Prevention and Reduction of Overweight and Obesity” held this week, Diario Libre reports.
Public Health Minister Victor Atallah, a functional medicine practitioner, has brought to the Ministry of Public Health his emphasis on prevention to combat disease. During the forum, he described obesity as the new epidemic.
The rising prevalence of excess weight is not confined to adults; it is increasing across the entire age spectrum, according to the 2024 National Micronutrient Survey. The findings of the study reveal that 6.4% of children 0-6 years are overweight, and of these 4% are obese. Likewise, the survey indicates that 16.2% of school age children (6 to 18 years) are overweight, with 13.1% obese.
The survey also highlighted a particularly worrying trend among women of reproductive age: 29.8% are overweight, 31.8% are obese, and 4.8% suffer from severe obesity.
Health authorities point to sedentary lifestyles and the regular consumption of ultra-processed foods as a key driver of the epidemic.
This dietary shift, combined with increasingly sedentary lifestyles, significantly raises the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and various cancers.
Minister of Public Health Victor Atallah Laham delivered an emphatic appeal to families and productive sectors to take their part in prevention.
“Everything begins at the earliest ages,” stated Minister Atallah, underscoring the urgency of implementing effective public policies and community interventions to reverse the alarming trend.
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Diario Libre
20 November 2025