More than one billion people are obese across the globe, according to new figures. In response, scientists have called for urgent action in how obesity is tackled.
Figures published in medical journal The Lancet estimate that in 2022, there were about 880 million adults and 159 million children that were obese.
Worldwide, obesity among adults has more than doubled since 1990, and has quadrupled among children and adolescents (five to 19 years of age). The data also show that 43% of adults were overweight in 2022.
The study also shows that even though the rates of undernutrition have dropped, it is still a public health challenge in many places, particularly in South-East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
By country, many of the top 10 in terms of percentage of the population that were obese – for men and women – were in small Oceanic countries. Tonga had the highest percentage of obese women, followed by American Samoa – both with more than 80% classed as obese. American Samoa and Nauru had the highest percentage of obese males – 70% each, while 42% of US males were classed as obese – the 10th highest number.
“This new study highlights the importance of preventing and managing obesity from early life to adulthood, through diet, physical activity, and adequate care, as needed,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization (WHO) director-general.
“Getting back on track to meet the global targets for curbing obesity will take the work of governments and communities, supported by evidence-based policies from WHO and national public health agencies. Importantly, it requires the cooperation of the private sector, which must be accountable for the health impacts of their products”.
The WHO says the causes of obesity are well understood, as are the interventions needed to contain the crisis, which are backed by strong evidence. But, the WHO adds, they are not implemented. At the World Health Assembly in 2022 Member States adopted the WHO Acceleration plan to stop obesity, which supports country-level action through 2030. To date, 31 governments are now leading the way to curb the obesity epidemic by implementing the plan.
The core interventions are:
- Actions to support healthy practices from day 1, including breastfeeding promotion, protection and support
- Regulations on the harmful marketing of food and beverages to children
- School food and nutrition policies, including initiatives to regulate the sales of products high in fats, sugars and salt in proximity of schools
- Fiscal and pricing policies to promote healthy diets
- Nutrition labelling policies
- Public education and awareness campaigns for healthy diets and exercise
- Standards for physical activity in schools
- Integration of obesity prevention and management services into primary health care.
“There are significant challenges in implementing policies aimed at ensuring affordable access to healthy diets for all and creating environments that promote physical activity and overall healthy lifestyles for everyone,” stated Dr Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s Nutrition and Food Safety Department and one of the co-authors of the study. “Countries should also ensure that health systems integrate the prevention and management of obesity into the basic package of services.”
