An international study recently published in The Lancet shows that since 1990, obesity has more than doubled in adults and quadrupled in children and adolescents aged 5 to 19. More importantly, India faces the double burden of childhood obesity and obesity.
The study, published on February 29, includes data on approximately 880 million adults and 159 million children in 2022. It shows an increase in obesity across age groups since 1990.
Researchers used data from 3,663 studies involving 222 million participants ages 5 and older, including 63 million people ages 5 to 19.
Research shows that by 2022, 43% of adults will be classified as overweight. Although malnutrition is improving, it remains a public health problem in regions such as Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Countries with the highest concentrations of oils and fats include the Pacific, Caribbean, Middle East, and North Africa. The obesity rate is particularly high among adults in Tonga and American Samoa.
India’s ranking in obesity and underweight reflects the country’s double burden. While obesity ranks 182nd among women and 180th among men out of 197 countries, it still carries a heavy burden among children at lower ages.
The United States, China, and India will have the most obese adults by 2022.
Overweight, obesity, and obesity are forms of malnutrition, each with different health effects. Although malnutrition remains the leading cause of death in children under 5, obesity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) contributed to the collection and analysis of data for this study. Obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive amount of fat, with a body mass index (BMI) over 25 considered overweight and over 30 considered obese, according to the World Health Organization.
Dr. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of preventing and controlling obesity at all stages of life. The WHO Acceleration Plan to Combat Obesity, adopted by WHO Member States in 2022, provides countries with a pathway to combat obesity by 2030 and is currently led by the governments of 31 countries.
