Alarming study: Half of adults will be obese by 2050!

Alarming study: Half of adults will be obese by 2050!

An alarming study, published in the Lancet Medical Journal, warns that almost 60 % of all adults and a third of all children worldwide will be overweight or obese by 2050 if no measures are taken. According to the examination that analyzed data from 204 countries, the number of overweight or obese people rose from 929 million in 1990 to around 2.6 billion in 2021. These figures illustrate the urgency with which the global obesity crisis must be tackled to prevent further spread.

The study estimates that around 3.8 billion adults will be overweight or obese by 2050, which corresponds to almost 60 % of the global adult population. The forecast increase of 121 % in obesity among children and adolescents worldwide is also worrying. A third of all obese young people will live in the Mideau and North Africa (Mena) as well as in Latin America and Caribbean. These developments suggest that the need for action is urgent and require stronger political obligations to transform nutrition within sustainable global food systems.

global distribution of obesity

Another aspect from the study shows that more than half of the overweight or obese adults already live in only eight countries: China, India, USA, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia and Egypt. This concentration also causes the challenge that only 7 % of all countries have appropriate health systems in order to deal with the obese crisis. This is particularly alarming, since a separate examination, the World Obesity Atlas of the World Obesity Federation, reveals that 79 % of adults and 88 % of children will live with obesity in low -income and medium -sized countries.

In addition, the underlying causes of obesity is pointed out, especially in socially disadvantaged groups. This illustrates the need to take structural factors into account that lead to the development of overweight. The mother's nutrition also plays a crucial role during pregnancy. Obesity in early childhood and adolescence increases the risk of health problems in adulthood, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.

diagnosis and treatment of obesity

In order to tackle the health risks of obesity more efficiently, it is required to reform the previous diagnostic methods. The body mass index (BMI) alone is considered inadequate, since it does not directly measure the body fat share or distribution and health effects. A new framework suggests to supplement the BMI with methods such as waist circumference measurement and direct body fat analyzes. The innovation comprises two categories: clinical and preclinical obesity. Clinical obesity describes cases in which excess body fat leads to organ dysfunction, while preclinical obesity represents an increased risk factor for chronic diseases without currently having health problems.

This improved diagnostic model aims to optimize the identification of people who need treatment and to avoid unnecessary therapies. Experts emphasize the need to adapt the criteria to individual health risks and offer evidence -based therapies for people with clinical obesity. People with preclinical obesity should be supported by regular checks and preventive measures in their health.

In Europe, the adult rate is overweight or obesity, almost 60 %, while almost every third child is affected. Covid-19 also tightened the situation by negatively influencing food consumption behavior and movement. The WHO recommends comprehensive measures to address the structural causes of obesity, including tax measures on sugar -containing products and subsidies for healthy foods. The goal is to improve the access options for therapies for obesity and obesity.

The challenges are huge, but with comprehensive political measures and a clear social responsibility, it could be possible to counteract the obesity crisis and to secure the health of future generations.

Further information and detailed reports are available at Helmholtz Munich and Bzfe .