Increase in overweight and obesity by 2050

Between 1990 and 2021, the number of overweight and obese people tripled among adults aged over 25, and doubled among those aged between 5 and 24. A worldwide study just published in The Lancet paints an alarming picture for 2050.

The consequences of 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 are well known, especially when they 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝. In addition to the impact on mental and physical health, obesity and overweight also have a societal and economic impact. Moreover, once these conditions are established in children, it is very difficult to return to a normal weight, so obesity 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.

The study used data collected 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟎 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 to make forecasts up to 2050. The prevalence of obesity and overweight 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 between 1990 and 2021, and that of obesity alone 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝. Prevalence was highest in North Africa and the Middle East. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝟐𝟎𝟓𝟎 predict a stabilization in the number of overweight people and an 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, across the board in terms of population and geographical location. According to predictions, around 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 of children and adolescents will be 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟓𝟎.

This global health emergency underscores the 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 targeting the factors influencing obesity: nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, and the environment.