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Seattle, WA – A stark warning has been issued by an international research group, revealing that if immediate action is not taken, over half of the world’s adults and one-third of children and adolescents will be overweight or obese by 2050. This alarming projection stems from an analysis of data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021, published in The Lancet.
The GBD 2021 Adolescent BMI Collaborators found that global efforts over the past three decades have failed to adequately address the escalating obesity crisis among children and adolescents. The numbers are staggering: the count of overweight and obese adults (≥ 25 years) and children/adolescents (5-24 years) has surged from 731 million and 198 million in 1990 to 2.11 billion and 493 million in 2021, respectively.
Without effective interventions, the number of affected young people is expected to skyrocket to 360 million by 2050, an increase of 186 million from 2021.
“This obesity epidemic is a profound tragedy and a monumental societal failure,” stated Emmanuela Gakidou, PhD, professor of health metrics sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington. She urged governments and public health officials to utilize country-specific data to identify high-risk populations and implement targeted preventive measures, particularly for those currently classified as overweight.
The study, which defined overweight and obesity using body mass index (BMI) thresholds, revealed a dramatic increase in global prevalence between 1990 and 2021. Childhood and adolescent obesity tripled from 2% to 7%, affecting 174 million youth.
By 2050, the study predicts that obesity will surpass overweight status among boys aged 5-14 years, raising concerns about early onset complications such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers.
“If we act now, we can prevent obesity from becoming the norm among children and adolescents worldwide,” asserted lead study author Jessica Kerr, PhD. She highlighted significant regional disparities, with the most dramatic increases observed in Oceania, North Africa, and the Middle East.
In the United States, the obesity rate stands at 42% for men and 46% for women. If current trends persist, global adult obesity rates will rise to 57.4% for men and 60.3% for women by 2050.
The authors stressed the urgent need for action plans within the next five years, including regulating ultraprocessed foods and promoting healthy diets and physical activity in schools.
“Now is not the time for ‘business as usual.’ Many countries have only a small window of opportunity to prevent more individuals from transitioning from overweight to obesity,” Kerr emphasized.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021 and represents projections and analyses conducted by the researchers. While the study provides valuable insights, it is important to note that future trends may be influenced by various factors, and these projections are not guarantees. Readers should consult with healthcare professionals for personalized advice and information regarding their health. The information provided in this article should not be considered medical advice.
