STEPS (the WHO STEPwise Approach to Surveillance of Risk Factors for NCDs) was initiated by WHO in 2001as an approach to NCD surveillance in WHO member states. The WHO STEPwise approach aims to build one common approach to defining core variables for surveys and to achieve data comparability over time and between countries. STEPS offer an entry point for low and middle income countries to get started in NCD prevention and control activities.
STEPS Reports and STEPS Fact Sheets have provided strong evidence for problem identification, magnitude of problem, priority selection, intergrated intervention and so on. For example, the prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI≥25) were: 93.6% in Tokelau, 93.5% in American Samoa, 93.3% in Nauru, 88.5% in Cook Islands, 85.2% in Samoa, 80.1% in Marshall Islands, 62.7% in Fiji. The prevalence of obesity (BMI≥30) were: 74.7% in Tokelau, 74.6% in American Samoa, 74.9% in Nauru, 61.4% in Cook Islands, 54.8% in Samoa, 44.8% in Marshall Islands, 29.6% in Fiji.
The diabetes rate among adults aged 25-64 years of age in American Samoa was 47.3%, the 2nd highest in the world, which is closely related to its high obesity rate (74.6%). The diabetes rate among 25-64 adults was 43.6 in Tokelau, 41.0% in Marshall Islands. The diabetes rate among 25-64 adults in Nauru was 22.7% in 2006,