Over a billion people worldwide suffer from obesity, according to recent figures published in The Lancet. American Samoa has the highest obesity rates among all countries, the BBC said.
According to figures from 2022, the affected population is estimated to be 159 million children and 880 million adults. Remarkably, the highest percentages are seen in island nations like American Samoa and Tonga, where 70–80% of persons are obese.
According to a thorough examination spanning 190 countries, the UK is ranked 55th for men and 87th for women. The study highlights how urgently significant changes in how obesity is addressed are required. The risk of serious health issues, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and several malignancies, is greatly increased by this condition.
When it comes to obesity rates worldwide, the US is ranked 10th for men and 36th for women, while India is ranked 19th for women and 21st for men. China comes in at number eleven for women and number fifty-two for males.
The impact of food availability and aggressive marketing of unhealthy options, especially in island nations, is highlighted by Professor Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London. He acknowledges his surprise at how quickly the world is moving toward an obesity problem.
The research, which covers the years 1990 to 2022, shows that childhood and teenage obesity has increased fourfold. The rates have nearly tripled for men and more than doubled for women among adults. Interestingly, the percentage of underweight adults has dropped by fifty percent, while the problem still exists in underprivileged areas.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasizes the need of managing and preventing obesity from an early age. He emphasizes that for action to be effective, collaboration across the public, private, and governmental sectors is essential.
Co-author Dr. Guha Pradeepa of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation identifies worldwide issues aggravating the state of malnourishment. Global difficulties related to underweight and obesity are exacerbated by factors such as COVID-19, poverty, and wars like the one in Ukraine. These factors also drive up the price of nutrient-rich foods and increase poverty.
The study, which involved more than 1,500 researchers, emphasizes how urgent it is to work together to address this intricate and urgent health issue.
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