Global Obesity Crisis: Over a Billion People Living with Obesity, Lancet Study Shows
Obesity has become a global crisis, with over a billion people around the world living with this condition, according to a study published in The Lancet. The study reveals that approximately 880 million adults and 159 million children are affected by obesity as of 2022. These staggering numbers highlight the urgent need for significant changes in how obesity is addressed.
The study ranks countries based on their obesity rates, taking into account the percentage of the population classified as obese after adjusting for age differences. Tonga and American Samoa have the highest rates of obesity among women, while American Samoa and Nauru top the list for men, with 70-80% of adults living with obesity. In comparison, the United Kingdom ranks 55th highest for men and 87th for women out of 190 countries.
Obesity poses a significant risk to health, increasing the likelihood of developing serious conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The study’s findings indicate a concerning trend, with the rate of obesity quadrupling among children and adolescents since 1990. Among adults, the rate has more than doubled in women and nearly tripled in men during the same period.
Professor Majid Ezzati from Imperial College London, a senior researcher involved in the study, highlights the role of food availability and marketing campaigns in contributing to obesity rates. He explains that in many island nations, the availability of unhealthy food outweighs that of healthy options. Aggressive marketing campaigns promoting unhealthy foods exacerbate the problem, while healthier food can be less accessible and costly.
The study also sheds light on the decline in underweight individuals globally, with the proportion of adults classified as underweight falling by 50%. However, researchers stress that underweight remains a pressing issue, particularly among impoverished communities. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasizes the importance of preventing and managing obesity from early life to adulthood through diet, physical activity, and adequate care. He calls for collaboration between governments, communities, and the private sector, holding the latter accountable for the health impacts of their products.
Dr. Guha Pradeepa, a co-author of the study from the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, warns that global issues such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and conflicts like the war in Ukraine could worsen both obesity and underweight rates. These issues increase poverty levels and the cost of nutrient-rich foods, leading to insufficient food in some countries and a shift towards less healthy options in others.
The study involved a network of over 1,500 researchers collaborating with the WHO. They analyzed height and weight measurements from more than 220 million individuals aged five and above. While the researchers acknowledge that body mass index (BMI) is an imperfect measure of body fat extent and that data quality varies across countries, they argue that it is the most widely used measure, enabling this comprehensive global analysis.
The findings of this study serve as a wake-up call to address the global obesity crisis. Urgent action is needed to promote healthier lifestyles, improve food accessibility, and hold the private sector accountable for their role in shaping dietary habits. By working together, governments, communities, and individuals can combat obesity and its associated health risks, ensuring a healthier future for generations to come.
