According to a study in The Lancet, nearly 60% of adults and one-third of children are projected to be overweight or obese by 2050 unless governments take decisive action. The increase in obesity rates will stress global health systems, especially as a significant number will be elderly. The research indicates that focused intervention on diet and lifestyle is critical for reversing these trends.
A recent study published in The Lancet highlights a troubling forecast: nearly 60% of adults and a third of all children globally are projected to be overweight or obese by 2050 unless governments implement effective measures. Researchers analyzed data from 204 countries, revealing that the number of overweight individuals surged from 929 million in 1990 to 2.6 billion in 2021.
Researchers estimate that without significant intervention, approximately 3.8 billion adults will be overweight or obese by 2050, which would account for around 60% of the adult population. This alarming trend will exert immense pressure on global health systems, particularly as around 25% of the obese population is expected to be over the age of 65 at that time.
Additionally, the study predicts a staggering 121% rise in obesity rates among children and adolescents worldwide. The regions most affected will be North Africa and the Middle East, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean, where a third of all obese youth are projected to reside by 2050.
Study co-author Jessica Kerr emphasizes the urgency of a transformative political commitment to improve diets and enhance global food systems. Strategies to foster better nutrition, physical activity, and the establishment of healthier living environments are critical to combating this epidemic.
The study identified that more than half of the world’s overweight or obese adults inhabit just eight countries, including China, India, the United States, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, and Egypt. Thorkild Sorensen, a researcher at the University of Copenhagen, noted that while poor diet and sedentary lifestyles fuel obesity, there is still uncertainty regarding the underlying causes affecting certain socio-economic groups.
This research benefits from collaboration within the Global Burden of Disease study, bringing together thousands of global researchers, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The study underscores the urgent need for government intervention to address the growing obesity epidemic, which poses significant health risks and pressures on global health systems. Effective strategies focusing on nutrition, physical activity, and environment are essential to mitigate this crisis, particularly among vulnerable populations, including the elderly and youth.
Original Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com
