In 2022, 43 percent of adults worldwide were overweight. WHO: More than a billion people are obese Health
According to a new study published in the scientific journal Lancet, as of 2022, more than 1 billion people, or one in eight people on the planet, were obese. Since 1990, global obesity rates among adults have more than doubled, and among children and adolescents (ages 5 to 19) have quadrupled. Also, according to the Lancet, 43 percent of the world’s adults were overweight in 2022.
The World Health Organization (WHO) contributed to the collection and analysis of information for the study. The full data set is available on the WHO Global Health Observatory portal.
Obesity and undernutrition
Research shows that Although malnutrition has declined, it remains a serious problem among many populations, especially in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. According to WHO, malnutrition is responsible for half of all deaths in children under 5 years of age.
Obesity, in turn, can lead to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases , diabetes and some types of cancer, the organization notes.
The highest combined rates of underweight and obesity in 2022 were recorded in the Pacific and Caribbean island countries and the Middle East and North Africa.
Prevention and treating excess weight
“New research highlights the importance of preventing and treating obesity in both early and adulthood through diet, physical activity and proper medical assistance if needed,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Achieving global obesity targets will require evidence-based interventions and the collective efforts of governments, societies and public health agencies, supported by WHO, he said. Ghebreyesus stressed that the cooperation of the private sector is also necessary, which is responsible for the impact of its products on the health of consumers.
Implementing measures to combat obesity
Obesity is a severe chronic disease. According to the WHO statement, experts are well aware of the reasons for the widespread prevalence of obesity, as well as the scientifically proven measures needed to curb this crisis. However, they are not being implemented, the organization notes.
At the 2022 World Health Assembly, Member States agreed to the WHO Fast-Track Plan to tackle obesity, which aims to support country-level efforts until 2030.
To date, 31 governments have launched the plan, which includes, among other things, measures in the areas of nutrition and physical education in schools, food labeling, and the integration of health care services. prevention and treatment of obesity in primary health care. with significant obstacles,” said one of the study’s co-authors, Francesco Branca, who heads the WHO Department of Nutrition and Food Safety. He called on states to include the prevention and treatment of obesity in the basic package of health systems. , addressing the problem of malnutrition requires multilateral efforts across the agriculture, social protection and health sectors. They must mobilize action to ensure there is enough food for all people, as well as improved access to clean water and sanitation and essential services to support healthy nutrition.
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