United Kingdom: A recent global analysis has found that the worldwide obesity rate exceeded one billion. Participants in the research included health scientists from around the world affiliated with the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The study, published in the journal ‘The Lancet’, indicated that 879 million adults and 159 million children were obese in 2022. Research shows that 16.8 million people in the UK suffer from obesity, including 8 million women, 7.4 million men, 760,000 boys, and 590,000 girls.
From 1990 to 2022, obesity rates among children and adolescents have quadrupled globally, while rates among adults have more than doubled. In addition, the study found that worldwide, the percentage of kids and adolescents who were underweight dropped over the same period, while the percentage of adults was more than halved.
Senior author Professor Majid Ezzati, of Imperial College London, remarked that, “It is very concerning that the epidemic of obesity that was evident among adults in much of the world in 1990 is now mirrored in school-aged children and adolescents.”
“At the same time, hundreds of millions are still affected by undernutrition, particularly in some of the poorest parts of the world. “To successfully tackle both forms of malnutrition it is vital we significantly improve the availability and affordability of healthy, nutritious foods,” the professor added.
Data from the United Kingdom showed that the rate of obese adults rose from 13.8 percent to 28.3 percent in women between 1990 and 2022, and from 10.7 percent to 26.9 percent in men in 2022. As of 2022, the rate of obesity among children and adolescents has increased significantly. Specifically, it has jumped from 4.7 percent in 1990 to 10.1 percent for girls and from 4.3 percent to 12.4 percent for boys. The places with the highest prevalence of obesity are Tonga, American Samoa, Polynesia, Micronesia, the Cook Islands and Niue.
According to recent data, as of 2022, approximately 532 million people worldwide are underweight. This includes 183 million women, 164 million men, 77 million girls, and 108 million boys. In the UK alone, roughly 981,000 individuals are underweight, consisting of 430,000 women, 360,000 men, 61,000 girls, and 130,000 boys.
The researchers utilized the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated using a person’s weight and height, to comprehend how levels of obesity and underweight have evolved around the world over the past thirty years. The team collected data from over 3,000 population studies, which included 222 million individuals.
According to the NHS, a BMI of over 30 is classified as obesity for adults. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, while a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. The study’s researchers acknowledged that BMI is not a perfect measure to determine body fat, as it could be masked by muscle mass. However, it is commonly used as a standard measure in population-based surveys.
Director general of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that, “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 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. Importantly, it requires the co-operation of the private sector, which must be accountable for the health impacts of their products,” he added.
Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for children and young people, said that, “These figures will be as alarming to parents as they are to the NHS. Obesity affects every human organ system, and so at a young age can have a major impact on a child’s life, increasing their risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, mental health issues and many other illnesses, which can lead to shorter and unhappier lives.”
“The NHS is committed to helping as many young people and families affected by extreme weight issues as possible through our new network of 30 specialist clinics, which offer tailored packages of physical, psychological and social support – but the NHS cannot solve this issue alone, and continued joined-up action by industry and wider society is needed if we are to avoid a ticking health timebomb for the future,” Kenny added.
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