In the next 12 years, the global population could see a significant increase in the number of overweight or obese people, with a new study claiming at least 4 billion individuals would weigh more than the normal average.
The World Obesity Federation recently released its World Obesity Atlas 2023 report predicting the global economic impact of overweight and obesity by 2035. According to the organization, if prevention or treatment measures do not improve by then, the world could see an economic impact of $4.32 trillion annually.
The figure accounts for almost 3% of the global GDP, almost similar to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Alongside this, 51% or about 4 billion people could be overweight or obese by 2035. The organization said 1 in 4 people, or around 2 billion, would live with obesity should the current trends prevail.
In 2020, around 2.6 billion people fell into the overweight and obese categories, accounting for 38% of the global population. The World Obesity Federation predicts that in 12 years, childhood obesity rates could more than double the 2020 levels. Around 208 million (100% increase) boys and 175 million girls (125% increase) are expected to be overweight or obese by then.
The organization noted that low-income countries could face rapid increases in obesity prevalence should the trends remain. Of the ten countries expected to report the greatest increases in obesity cases, nine would come from low or lower-middle-income countries from Asia or Africa.
“This year’s Atlas is a clear warning that by failing to address obesity today, we risk serious repercussions in the future. It is particularly worrying to see obesity rates rising fastest among children and adolescents,” World Obesity Federation President Louise Baur said in a press release.
“Governments and policymakers around the world need to do all they can to avoid passing health, social, and economic costs on to the younger generation. That means looking urgently at…
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