Survey figures put St. Maarten adult obesity at nearly 44%

Figures attributed to St. Maarten’s 2023-2024 PAHO/WHO STEPS Survey put overweight prevalence among adults at 73.6% and obesity at nearly 44%. The survey, conducted from July 2023 to October 2024, included 2,042 people aged 18 to 69.

The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor said in November 2025 that the country’s first PAHO/WHO STEPS Survey had been completed and its final report submitted to then Minister of VSA Richinel Brug. The ministry said it planned a stakeholder information session later that month to present findings and recommendations.

For comparison, PAHO’s 2023 STEPS Survey in Aruba found that 78.8% of adults were overweight and 45.8% were obese.