A global study warns that by 2050, nearly 60% of adults and a third of children may be overweight or obese without significant government intervention. The research predicts an overwhelming burden on health systems, particularly as the elderly population increases, and highlights urgent needs for reform in dietary practices and sustainable food systems.
A recent comprehensive study published in The Lancet indicates that approximately 60% of adults and one-third of children globally may fall into the overweight or obese categories by the year 2050 if governments do not implement substantial preventive measures. The data, derived from research encompassing 204 nations, illustrates the escalating obesity epidemic as a critical health dilemma of the 21st century.
The lead researcher, Emmanuela Gakidou from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), remarked that “the unprecedented global epidemic of overweight and obesity is a profound tragedy and a monumental societal failure.” This crisis has seen the number of overweight or obese individuals surge from 929 million in 1990 to 2.6 billion in 2021, suggesting a dire trajectory if current habits persist.
Additionally, researchers project that by 2035, approximately 3.8 billion adults may be overweight or obese, accounting for around 60% of the adult population. They highlighted that the global health systems will face overwhelming stress, especially as about 25% of the obese population is expected to be over the age of 65 by that time. Furthermore, they anticipate a significant 121% increase in obesity rates among children and adolescents globally.
The study also cautioned that certain regions, namely North Africa and the Middle East and Latin America and the Caribbean, will become home to a significant proportion of obese young individuals. Study co-author Jessica Kerr from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute emphasized the need for stronger political commitment to reform dietary practices through sustainable global food systems and to enhance nutrition and physical activity.
Notably, over half of the world’s overweight or obese adults reside in eight countries: China, India, the United States, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, and Egypt. While the lifestyle and dietary changes contributing to obesity are evident, there remain uncertainties regarding the root causes, particularly within socially disadvantaged groups, as noted by Thorkild Sorensen from the University of Copenhagen.
The alarming projections regarding obesity rates underscore the urgent need for comprehensive governmental action to combat this escalating public health crisis. Without immediate and substantial interventions, the global prevalence of obesity will not only rise but will also severely impact health systems worldwide, particularly with an aging population. Collaborative efforts aimed at improving diet and increasing physical activity are essential for reversing these trends.
Original Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com
