A recent study published by The Lancet has unveiled a staggering reality: in 2022, over 1 billion individuals worldwide are grappling with obesity, marking a significant escalation in this global health crisis. This comprehensive analysis underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to address obesity and its far-reaching implications.
ALARMING TRENDS: ESCALATING RATES OF OBESITY WORLDWIDE
Since 1990, the prevalence of obesity among adults has more than doubled globally, while among children and adolescents aged 5 to 19, it has quadrupled. Furthermore, the study reveals that 43% of adults worldwide were classified as overweight in 2022, highlighting the pervasive nature of this issue.
The total number of children and adolescents who were affected by obesity in 2022 was nearly 160 million (65 million girls and 94 million boys), compared to 31 million in 1990. Whereas 77 million girls and 108 million boys were underweight in 2022, decreasing from 81 million for girls and 138 million for boys in 1990. In adults, obesity rates more than doubled among women (8.8% to 18.5%) and nearly tripled in men (4.8% to 14.0%) between 1990 and 2022. The proportion of adults who were underweight halved between 1990 and 2022 (14.5% to 7.0% in women; 13.7% to 6.2% in men).
In total, an estimated nearly 880 million adults were living with obesity in 2022 (504 million women and 374 million men), four and a half times the 195 million recorded in 1990 (128 million women and 67 million men). Combined with the 159 million children living with obesity in 2022, this is a total of over one billion people affected by obesity in 2022. Despite global population growth, 183 million women and 164 million men were affected by underweight in 2022, 45 million and 48 million fewer, respectively, than in 1990.
PERSISTENT CHALLENGES: THE ONGOING BURDEN OF UNDERNUTRITION
While rates of undernutrition have declined in certain regions, it remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in South-East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The study identifies these areas as focal points for continued efforts to combat undernutrition and ensure food security for vulnerable populations.
Dr. Guha Pradeepa, study co-author from the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, warns that major global issues risk worsening both forms of malnutrition, saying: “The impact of issues such as climate change, disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine risk worsening both rates of obesity and underweight, by increasing poverty and the cost of nutrient-rich foods. The knock-on effects of this are insufficient food in some countries and households and shifts to less healthy foods in others. To create a healthier world, we need comprehensive policies to address these challenges.”
GLOBAL HOTSPOTS: ISLAND NATIONS AND REGIONS IN FOCUS
Countries with the highest combined rates of underweight and obesity in 2022 are concentrated in island nations across the Pacific and the Caribbean, as well as in the Middle East and North Africa. These regions demand targeted interventions to address the dual burden of malnutrition effectively.
Senior author Professor Majid Ezzati, of Imperial College London, said: “It is very concerning that the epidemic of obesity that was evident among adults in much of the world in 1990 is now mirrored in school-aged children and adolescents. At the same time, hundreds of millions are still affected by undernutrition, particularly in some of the poorest parts of the world. To successfully tackle both forms of malnutrition it is vital we significantly improve the availability and affordability of healthy, nutritious foods.”
REGIONAL AND COUNTRY-SPECIFIC DATA
Countries with the highest prevalence of obesity in 2022 were the island nations of Tonga and American Samoa for women and American Samoa and Nauru for men in Polynesia and Micronesia, where more than 60% of the adult population were living with obesity.
United Kingdom:
Women: 28.3%
Men: 26.9%
Ranking: 87th highest for women, 55th highest for men globally
United States of America:
Women: 43.8%
Men: 41.6%
Ranking: 36th highest for women, 10th highest for men globally
China:
Women: 7.8%
Men: 8.9%
Ranking: 11th lowest for women (190th highest), 52nd lowest for men (149th highest) globally
India:
Women: 9.8%
Men: 5.4%
Ranking: 19th lowest for women (182nd highest), 21st lowest for men (180th highest) globally
UNDERWEIGHT RATES
Eritrea and Timor-Leste:
Women: More than 20% of the adult population
Men: More than 20% of the adult population
China:
Women: 5.9%
Men: 2.9%
Ranking: 61st highest for women, 97th highest for men globally
India:
Women: 13.7%
Men: 12.5%
Ranking: 13th highest for women, 26th highest for men globally
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: THE DUAL TOLL OF MALNUTRITION
Malnutrition encompasses a spectrum of conditions, including undernutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight), inadequate vitamin or mineral intake, overweight, and obesity. Undernutrition remains a leading cause of mortality among children under 5, while obesity contributes to noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, and certain cancers.
WHO’S CALL TO ACTION: MOBILIZING GLOBAL EFFORTS
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the imperative of preventing and managing obesity across the lifespan, advocating for comprehensive strategies encompassing dietary interventions, physical activity promotion, and accessible healthcare. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, underscores the importance of collaborative action involving governments, communities, and the private sector to address this multifaceted challenge.
PATH TO PROGRESS: IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS
Despite a clear understanding of the causes and interventions required to combat obesity, implementation lags behind. The WHO Acceleration Plan, adopted at the 2022 World Health Assembly, provides a roadmap for member states to tackle obesity through evidence-based policies and interventions. To date, 31 governments are leading the charge in implementing this plan to curb the obesity epidemic.
KEY INTERVENTIONS: A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO OBESITY PREVENTION
The core interventions outlined by WHO include promoting healthy practices from infancy, regulating the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, implementing nutrition policies in schools, enacting fiscal measures to encourage healthy diets, enhancing nutrition labeling, and fostering public awareness campaigns. Additionally, integrating obesity prevention and management services into primary healthcare systems is essential for comprehensive care delivery.
A CALL FOR MULTISECTORAL COLLABORATION: ADDRESSING UNDERNUTRITION
Addressing undernutrition necessitates a multisectoral approach spanning agriculture, social protection, and healthcare. By prioritizing food security, access to clean water and sanitation, and essential nutrition interventions, countries can mitigate the burden of undernutrition and promote holistic well-being.
