The World Obesity Federation's World Obesity Atlas has shown that obesity rates in kids and teenagers are rapidly increasing worldwide, highlighting the need for urgent preventative measures for a healthier future generation.
Increasing obesity rates around the world have revealed significant gaps in healthcare and nutrition, particularly affecting the poorest populations.
The Atlas's statistics indicate that by 2035, 79 percent of overweight and obese adults will be in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), along with 88 percent of overweight and obese children. It's projected that the number of adults with obesity will rise from 0.81 billion in 2020 to 1.53 billion in 2035.
World Obesity Day, observed globally on March 4th, aims to end the growing global obesity crisis. Governments are encouraged to recommit to addressing this challenge for a healthier and more equitable future for all.
The World Obesity Federation, the only global organization focused solely on obesity, brings together member organizations dedicated to solving obesity problems, representing professionals from over 90 regional and national obesity associations.
The World Obesity Federation is a key partner to global agencies on obesity, including the World Health Organisation, with formal consultative status approved by the World Health Assembly.
One of the key findings is that no part of the world is unaffected by obesity, and the poorest are affected the most, even at younger ages.
Contrary to public belief, lower-income countries are increasingly experiencing early disability and death due to obesity and related diseases like diabetes and heart disease, according to a statement released by the Federation ahead of the WOD.
The Atlas found a clear link between a country's development-related greenhouse gas emissions and rising obesity rates, emphasizing the interrelationship between environmental factors and obesity in both the Global South and the Global North.
The Atlas provided compelling evidence that the absence of obesity care in health systems is driving major Non-Communicable Diseases, including cancer and diabetes.
The release of the 2024 Global Atlas underscores the need for a shift in addressing obesity, rejecting false tradeoffs and recognizing it as a serious, global challenge requiring multisectoral solutions and coordinated action, stated World Obesity Federation's Chief Executive Officer, Johanna Ralston.
The new 2024 Atlas highlights how factors driving economic development contribute to obesity trends.
Surprisingly, the Atlas noted that 78 percent of global deaths related to high Body Mass Index occur among adults in LMICs, surpassing the 22 percent in high-income nations.
Similarly, it mentioned that 80 percent of Disability-Adjusted Life Years are linked to high BMI burden adults in LMICs, compared to only 20 percent in high-income countries.
“Many people wrongly believe that obesity – and its numerous health effects – are only found in specific countries in the Global North,’ stated Kent Buse, Director of the Healthier Societies Program at the George Institute for Global Health.
“However, the obstacles to obtaining healthy and affordable foods, active transport, and necessary medical support are not limited to what people typically think of as ‘wealthy’ countries, and governments all over the world need to put in place policies that help communities access healthy food and responsive health systems now. The projections in the Global Atlas clearly show what the alternative is, and it is a frightening prospect.”
The 2024 Atlas established a direct link between obesity and planetary health. Countries
experiencing rapid economic growth are prone to higher levels of BMI and consequently, there are several environmental repercussions that result from that increase.
“As economic development increases, we observe higher levels of high BMI. We also see a similar connection between high BMI and GHG emissions, increased urban population, plastic waste usage, and insufficient physical activity,” said WOF President, Louise Baur.
“Additionally, obesity rates are increasing—at a very worrying pace—among children and adolescents worldwide. Measures aimed at this demographic are essential to ensure healthier future generations.”
