That’s one billion people who lived with the disease in 2022, a number that has doubled among adults and quadrupled among five to 19-year-olds since 1990, according to data from the study, published in The Lancet, a renowned United Kingdom-based medical journal.
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“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 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, which contributed to the study.
Global targets to curb obesity
A complex chronic disease, obesity has become a crisis, unfolding in epidemic proportions that reflect a stark rise over the past few decades.
While the causes are well understood, as are the evidence-based interventions needed to contain the crisis, the problem is that they are not implemented, according to the UN health agency.
“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,” the UN health chief said.
It also requires the cooperation of the private sector, which must be accountable for the health impacts of their products, he added.
The study’s data also showed that 43 per cent of adults were overweight in 2022.
Deadly consequences
In the Europe, overweight and obesity are among the leading causes of death and disability, with estimates suggesting they cause more than 1.2 million deaths annually, according to WHO’s regional office.
Obesity increases the risk for many noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. Overweight people and those living with obesity have been disproportionately affected by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, often experiencing more severe disease and other complications, the UN health agency said.
It is considered a cause of at least 13 different types of cancer, likely to be directly responsible for at least 200,000 new cancer cases annually across Europe, according to WHO.
United Nations
SDG 3
SDG 3: HEALTHIER GLOBAL POPULATION
- Promote mental health and wellbeing and strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse
- Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from pollution, contamination and tobacco
- Achieve universal health coverage and provide access to affordable, essential vaccines and medicines
- Reduce global maternal mortality rate to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and under-five mortality to at least 25 per 1,000 live births
- End epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and combat hepatitis and other communicable diseases
Sustainable development hinges on ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing at all ages
Undernutrition challenges
Malnutrition, in all its forms, includes obesity, inadequate vitamins or minerals and being overweight. It also includes undernutrition, which covers wasting, stunting and being underweight (or thinness) and is responsible for half of the deaths of children under five.
The study showed that even though the rates of undernutrition have dropped, it is still a public health challenge in many places, particularly in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Countries with the highest combined rates of underweight, or thinness, and obesity in 2022 were island nations in the Pacific and the Caribbean and those in the Middle East and North Africa.
WHO’s acceleration plan
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.
Some of the ways they are doing that include such core interventions as breastfeeding promotion and regulations on the harmful marketing of food and beverages to children.
Healthy diets for all
© Unsplash/Anna Pelzer
A healthy diet can prevent obesity.
One of the co-authors of the study, Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Nutrition and Food Safety Department, said there are “significant challenges” in implementing policies that aim to ensure affordable access to healthy diets for all and create environments conducive to physical activity and overall healthy lifestyles.
“Countries should also ensure that health systems integrate the prevention and management of obesity into the basic package of services,” he said.
Addressing undernutrition requires action in the agriculture, social protection and health sectors to reduce food insecurity, improve access to clean water and sanitation and ensure universal access to essential nutrition interventions, according to the UN health agency.
The new study used data from 200 countries and territories, including 3,663 population-based studies with 222 million participants. WHO contributed to the data collection and analysis of the study and disseminated the full dataset through its Global Health Observatory.
How is obesity measured?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has guidelines. The diagnosis of obesity is made by measuring people’s weight and height and by calculating the body mass index (BMI). Here’s more from the guidelines:
- The BMI is a surrogate marker of fatness and additional measurements, such as the waist circumference, can help the diagnosis of obesity.
- BMI categories for defining obesity vary by age and gender in infants, children and adolescents.
- The formula for the calculation is weight (kg)/height² (m²).
- For adults, WHO defines obesity as when a BMI is greater than or equal to 30.
- For children under age five, obesity is weight-for-height that is greater than three standard deviations above the WHO child growth standards median.
- For children aged five to 19 years, obesity is greater than two standard deviations above the WHO growth reference median.
Simon Blake is an experienced journalist deeply interested in international affairs and global development. Having spent years reporting on humanitarian issues, he offers a unique perspective in his coverage of United Nations news.
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.
“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 EmilySmith. She believes that global targets to curb obesity are crucial and require collaborative efforts from governments, communities, and the private sector to implement evidence-based interventions effectively.
It’s alarming to see the increasing numbers of people dealing with obesity. The statistics mentioned in the article demonstrate the urgent need for effective preventive measures and intervention strategies at a global level to address this critical health issue.
Do you think enough is being done by governments and the private sector to address the obesity crisis based on the evidence-based interventions identified in the study?
It’s quite evident that more proactive measures need to be taken by both governments and the private sector to effectively tackle the obesity crisis. The study clearly outlines the evidence-based interventions required, and it’s imperative that these are swiftly implemented to curb the rising numbers of individuals affected by obesity.
“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 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, which contributed to the study.
Does the study mention any specific strategies that have proven to be effective in preventing and managing obesity in different age groups?
Yes, the study emphasizes the importance of implementing evidence-based interventions such as promoting healthy diet choices, increasing physical activity, and providing appropriate medical care from childhood to adulthood. These strategies have shown to be effective in preventing and managing obesity across different age groups. It is crucial for individuals, communities, and governments to prioritize these interventions to address the obesity crisis.
Did the study address any specific reasons why evidence-based interventions to manage obesity are not being implemented effectively?
EmilySmith22, the study did mention that while the causes of obesity are well understood and the interventions needed to address it are evidence-based, the main issue lies in the lack of effective implementation. This highlights the crucial need for governments, communities, and the private sector to collaborate in order to meet global targets for curbing obesity. It’s a collective effort that requires accountability and commitment from all parties involved.
As a healthcare professional, I believe it is crucial to address the obesity epidemic from a young age. Education on proper nutrition and encouraging physical activity can make a significant impact on future generations’ health and well-being.
It’s like, ya know, ’bout one in eight folks dealing with obesity these days, y’all. That’s one billion people who lived with the disease in 2022, a number that has doubled among adults and quadrupled among five to 19-year-olds since 1990, according to data from the study, published in The Lancet, a renowned United Kingdom-based medical journal.
It’s like, ya know, ‘bout one in eight folks dealin’ with obesity these days, y’all. That’s one billion people who lived with the disease in 2022, a number that has doubled among adults and quadrupled among five to 19-year-olds since 1990, according to data from the study, published in The Lancet, a renowned United Kingdom-based medical journal.
It’s like, ya know, ‘bout one in eight folks is dealin’ with obesity these days, y’all. That’s one billion people who live with the disease in 2022, a number that has doubled among adults and quadrupled among five to 19-year-olds since 1990, according to data from the study published in The Lancet, a renowned United Kingdom-based medical journal.