The fattest countries in the world are located in the Pacific islands, says the World Health Organization (WHO), which recently released a report showing that nine out of the top 10 fattest countries are located in the region.

Cook Islands lead the list with 50.8 percent of its population rated as obese or with a BMI of over 30kgs/m2. Palau comes next with 47.6 percent.

On average, the statistics gathered by WHO showed that for the top 10 obese countries, 30-50 percent of their population fall under the obese category.

According to Emmanuela Gakidou, professor of Global Health at the Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation, "one third of the world is either overweight or obese right now, and the Pacific Islands have a lot of countries with very high levels of obesity." This statement was reported by CNN Editorial.

The results of the study lead by Gakidou can be associated to the lifestyle of the people in the Pacific. While most people see these countries as a kind of paradise, its residents live on imported food, get little exercise and have only remote access to proper healthcare. 

A Fijan Native and a program officer at WHO, Temo Waqanivalu, shares that in the islands, the statement 'big is beautiful' is widely believed in. However, he adds, "...big is beautiful, fat is not. That needs to get through."

Earlier studies focusing on the cause of obesity in the region has found at least one that has lead to the 'Thrifty Genes' hypothesis – the concept that the regions people are programmed genetically to storefat in order to survive long journeys across lands and seas.