Over one billion suffering from obesity worldwide – WHO report

A recent World Health Organisation report has revealed that the number of people with obesity worldwide has more than doubled since 1990 and that the noncommunicable disease impacts over one billion people globally. The report published by the Lancet Medical Journal noted that obesity is particularly hitting poorer countries, while the rate is growing among children and adolescents faster than adults.

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According to the WHO, overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk, adding that a body mass index of over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese.

The study, released ahead of World Obesity Day, commemorated annually on March 4, estimated that there were about 226 million obese adults, adolescents, and children in the world in 1990 and that the figure had risen to 1,038 million in 2022.

Researchers in the study analysed the weight and height measurements of more than 220 million people in more than 190 countries to reach the estimates.

They estimated that 504 million adult women and 374 million men were obese in 2022.

The study also stated that the obesity rate had nearly tripled for men (14 per cent) since 1990 and more than doubled for women (18.5 per cent).

According to the study, the number of children and adolescents living with obesity increased from approximately 31 million in 1990 to approximately 159 million in 2022. It further observed that the Caribbean, Middle East, North Africa, Polynesia, and Micronesia suffered more from the rise.

“These countries now have higher obesity rates than many high-income industrialised countries, especially those in Europe,” the study added.

Reacting to the findings, the WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Stressed the importance of managing obesity from early life to adulthood, through diet, physical activity, and adequate care.

He said, “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. Getting back on track to meet global targets for cutting obesity rates requires the cooperation of the private sector, which must be accountable for the health impacts of their products. Corroborating him, the Director of Nutrition for Health at the WHO, Francesco Branca, said the rise above one billion people with obesity has come “much earlier than we have anticipated”.

He said the new drugs “are an important tool but not a solution to the problem.”

Branca added, “In the past, we have tended to think of obesity as a problem of the rich, now a problem of the world. Obesity is a long-term issue and it is important to look at the impact of these drugs on long-term effects or side effects.”

PUNCH/Wumi