What country has the most unhealthy diets? A Global Nutrition Analysis

October 2, 2025 •

5 min read

According to a major 2019 study published in The Lancet, a poor diet is responsible for more deaths globally than any other risk factor. Identifying exactly what country has the most unhealthy diets, however, is a complex question with no single answer, as different research uses varying criteria like diet-related mortality, packaged food healthiness, or consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Quick Summary

Analyzing different metrics reveals various countries with poor diet quality. Uzbekistan recorded the highest rate of diet-related deaths in a 2019 study, while other nations face challenges related to high consumption of ultra-processed foods or unhealthy packaged goods.

Key Points

Uzbekistan Ranked Highest for Diet-Related Deaths: A 2019 study found Uzbekistan had the highest rate of deaths linked to poor diet, attributed to a lack of whole grains and fruits alongside high sodium intake.
The UK and US Have High Ultra-Processed Food Consumption: In the UK, over 50% of household food purchases are ultra-processed foods, while the figure is also very high in the US, contributing to chronic disease.
Packaged Food Quality is Poor in India and China: A 2019 survey rated packaged foods in India and China as the least healthy, raising concerns about rising obesity rates in these populous nations.
Middle Eastern Countries Show High Obesity Prevalence: Studies have linked high obesity rates in countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE to a shift towards westernized, processed, and animal-product-heavy diets.
Socioeconomic Factors Drive Poor Nutrition: The affordability and widespread availability of ultra-processed foods, coupled with aggressive marketing, are significant drivers of unhealthy diets globally, particularly impacting low-income communities.
No Single Country Holds the Title: The term 'most unhealthy' depends on the metric used (e.g., mortality, ultra-processed food intake, packaged food quality), with different countries topping various lists.

Determining precisely what country has the most unhealthy diets is not as simple as pointing to a single nation. Global health organizations and researchers use different metrics to evaluate dietary quality, leading to varied conclusions depending on the criteria applied. Factors range from mortality rates linked to diet to the prevalence of ultra-processed food consumption and the nutritional quality of available packaged goods. By examining these diverse metrics, a clearer, albeit complex, picture of global dietary health emerges.

Diet-Related Mortality: The Case of Uzbekistan

One of the most cited studies regarding diet-related health outcomes is the 2019 analysis published in The Lancet, which examined dietary risk factors in 195 countries. Based on the rate of diet-related deaths per 100,000 people, the study identified Uzbekistan as having the highest rate, followed closely by Afghanistan and the Marshall Islands. The primary culprits were low intake of key healthy foods and nutrients, including whole grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, and milk, combined with an excessive intake of sodium.

This finding illustrates a crucial point: an "unhealthy diet" can stem not just from consuming harmful foods, but also from failing to consume enough healthy, protective foods. These nutritional gaps contribute significantly to the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. While a high rate of diet-related mortality is a powerful indicator, it is only one piece of the puzzle.

The Rise of Ultra-Processed Food Consumption

In many high-income and rapidly developing nations, the primary driver of poor dietary health is the high consumption of ultra-processed foods. These products are often high in energy, salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats but low in essential nutrients. Several studies highlight countries with alarmingly high rates of ultra-processed food intake:

United Kingdom: With ultra-processed foods making up over 50% of household food purchases, the UK faces significant challenges. The high consumption rates, particularly among children, are linked to a host of chronic health issues.
United States: The US is consistently ranked among the highest consumers of ultra-processed foods globally, with some estimates suggesting these products constitute 58% of the average American adult's diet.
Latin America: Countries in this region have seen a rapid increase in the sales and consumption of ultra-processed foods. For example, between 2000 and 2013, sales increased by 48%, with countries like Uruguay and Bolivia seeing explosive growth.

This shift towards convenience and processed foods is driven by urbanization, aggressive marketing by the food industry, and changing lifestyles. It often leads to a "dual burden of malnutrition," where populations experience both undernutrition and rising rates of obesity and NCDs.

Unhealthy Packaged Food Quality

Another perspective on unhealthy diets focuses on the nutritional content of packaged foods available in a country's market. A 2019 survey that analyzed over 400,000 products across 12 countries ranked India and China as having the least healthy packaged foods and drinks. The survey, based on Australia's Health Star Rating system, highlighted a concern that as these vast populations undergo economic growth and rapid industrialization, they are being inundated with low-quality packaged foods that could lead to a "tsunami" of obesity and diet-related illness. This metric demonstrates that even when access to food improves, the quality of that food is a critical factor in public health.

Obesity Prevalence and Diet Transitions

High rates of obesity often correlate with poor dietary habits. The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted a global rise in overweight and obesity, particularly impacting low- and middle-income countries. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, several countries exhibit very high obesity rates, indicating problematic dietary patterns. A study published in 2022 on food systems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region linked these trends to a shift away from traditional diets towards westernized diets high in animal products and processed foods.

For example, the study revealed that:

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and UAE: Showed high obesity prevalence, with urbanization and a shift towards convenience foods being significant contributing factors.
Dietary shifts: These regions saw an increased reliance on animal-source protein and fats, rather than healthier, plant-based alternatives.

These findings suggest that economic development and modernization, without proper public health safeguards, can lead to a rapid deterioration of a nation's dietary health.

Comparing Measures of Unhealthy Diets

To better understand how different studies and metrics lead to different conclusions, the following table compares findings based on specific criteria:


Metric for Unhealthiness	Country Highlighted	Key Dietary Issues	Source/Study Year
Diet-Related Deaths	Uzbekistan (highest rate)	Low intake of whole grains, fruits, nuts; High sodium	The Lancet (2019)
Packaged Food Quality	India & China (least healthy)	Poor healthiness of packaged foods based on Health Star Ratings	Obesity Reviews (2019)
Ultra-Processed Food (% of Diet)	United Kingdom & United States (highest rates)	High consumption of factory-made bread, ready meals, and sugary drinks	Multiple sources, e.g., Visual Capitalist via BBC (2025)
Recent Health Index	Central African Republic (lowest health score)	Poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity	CEOWORLD magazine (2025)
Obesity Prevalence (Regional)	Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt (MENA)	Shift to Westernized diets, increased processed food consumption	MDPI (2022)

Conclusion

Based on a comprehensive analysis of various global studies, there is no single country with the most unhealthy diets. Instead, the answer depends entirely on the metric used for evaluation. Uzbekistan, for example, demonstrated the highest rate of diet-related deaths in a 2019 study due to severe nutritional deficiencies, while the UK and USA lead in ultra-processed food consumption, a major driver of chronic disease in developed nations. Meanwhile, India and China face a potential health crisis due to the poor quality of packaged foods flooding their markets.

These findings collectively emphasize that unhealthy diets are a multifaceted global issue, influenced by economic status, cultural shifts, and access to nutritious foods. The rise of processed and convenience foods, often aggressively marketed, poses a significant threat to public health worldwide. Moving forward, a holistic approach that considers dietary quality from various perspectives is essential for understanding and addressing the complex challenge of poor nutrition on a global scale. The NCD Alliance provides resources on this topic, highlighting that systemic changes are necessary to make healthy choices more accessible and affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 'unhealthiest' diet is measured using various criteria, such as the rate of diet-related deaths, the percentage of ultra-processed foods consumed, the nutritional quality of available packaged foods, and overall obesity prevalence. The country identified as 'unhealthiest' can differ significantly depending on which metric is prioritized.

A 2019 study in The Lancet identified Uzbekistan as having the highest rate of diet-related deaths primarily due to low consumption of healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, nuts, and seeds, coupled with an excessive intake of sodium.

Studies show that the United Kingdom and the United States have some of the highest rates of ultra-processed food consumption. In the UK, over half of household food purchases fall into this category, while the US also has a very high rate, contributing to a host of chronic health issues.

Yes, a 2019 survey found that India and China sold the least healthy packaged foods and drinks when rated using Australia's Health Star Rating system. This finding raises concerns about the impact of widespread packaged food availability on public health in these large populations.

Socioeconomic factors play a crucial role. Economic development, urbanization, and income levels can influence dietary shifts away from traditional, fresh foods toward more affordable, convenient, and aggressively marketed ultra-processed foods. Poverty can also restrict access to nutritious options.

Obesity is often a strong indicator of unhealthy dietary habits. For instance, high-income countries and rapidly urbanizing nations in regions like the Middle East have seen rising obesity rates linked to shifts towards westernized diets and increased consumption of processed foods high in fat and sugar.

Not necessarily. While high-income countries often have greater access to a variety of foods, they can also have high rates of ultra-processed food consumption. Similarly, rapidly developing countries may see an increase in obesity and diet-related NCDs as traditional diets are replaced by processed foods, creating a 'dual burden' of malnutrition.