A recent report published by The Lancet has brought to light a staggering statistic: more than one billion people worldwide are now classified as obese, posing significant health risks. The Lancet’s official website conveyed this alarming information on Sunday, revealing a concerning trend where obesity rates among adults have more than doubled since 1990 and quadrupled among children and adolescents aged five to 19.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines obesity as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, affecting individuals with a BMI over 25”. Strikingly, obesity has now surpassed underweight as a prevalent issue, even in low and middle-income countries.
In 2019, an estimated five million deaths were attributed to higher-than-optimal BMI, underscoring the severity of the global obesity crisis. The report indicates that nearly 880 million adults and 159 million children lived with obesity in 2022, with 43 per cent of adults being overweight.
The study was conducted by over 1,500 researchers from the Non-Communicable Diseases Risk Factor Collaboration and WHO. It draws on data from over 220 million individuals across 190 countries, making it one of the most comprehensive assessments to date.
Recommendations from the study underscore the importance of early intervention, promoting healthy practices from infancy, and regulating the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages, particularly targeting children. The report advocates for comprehensive school food and nutrition policies and measures to control access to high-fat, sugary and salty products near schools.
Prof. Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London, a study’s senior author, highlighted the dual challenge of rising obesity rates alongside persistent undernutrition, particularly in vulnerable populations. Ezzati stressed the need for concerted efforts to address both ends of the malnutrition spectrum.
WHO director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasised the importance of prevention and management of obesity across the lifespan, urging collaboration across sectors and accountability from the private sector.
Director of WHO’s nutrition and food safety department, Mrs. Francesco Branca underscored the challenges in implementing effective policies to address obesity, highlighting the need for affordable access to healthy diets and environments conducive to physical activity.
Branca stressed that the report serves as a wake-up call, urging immediate action to stem the tide of rising obesity rates globally.
