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WORLD'S OBESITY REPORT 2023

MORE THAN HALF THE GLOBAL POPULATION WILL BE LIVING WITH OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY WITHIN 12 YEARS*

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY TO SURPASS $4 TRILLION BY 2035

 

The World Obesity Atlas 2023, published by World Obesity Federation, predicts that the global economic impact of overweight and obesity will reach $4.32 trillion annually by 2035 if prevention and treatment measures do not improve. At almost 3% of global GDP, this is comparable with the impact of COVID-19 in 2020.

  • The majority of the global population (51%, or over 4 billion people) will be living with either overweight or obesity by 2035 if current trends prevail. 1 in 4 people (nearly 2 billion) will have severe obesity (BMI ≥30kg/m²) compared to 1 in 7 today.
  • Childhood obesity could more than double by 2035 (from 2020 levels). Rates are predicted to double among boys to 208 million (100% increase) and more than double among girls to 175 million (125% increase) and are rising more rapidly among children than adults.
  • Lower income countries are facing rapid increases in obesity prevalence. Of the 10 countries with the greatest expected increases in obesity globally (for both adults and children), 9 of those are from low or lower-middle income countries. All are from either Asia or Africa.
  • World Obesity Federation calls for comprehensive national action plans to help countries act on new World Health Organization (WHO) Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Obesity.
  • Acknowledgement of the economic impact is in no way a reflection of blame on people living with obesity, which is a chronic, relapsing disease. A new World Obesity Atlas report from the World Obesity Federation, published on World Obesity Day, predicts that 51% of the global population will be living with overweight or obesity by 2035 based on current trends. Continued failure to improve prevention and treatment could contribute to a total economic impact of US$4.32 trillion by 2035 – nearly 3% of global GDP. These new figures represent a significant increase on current levels and lend urgency to World Obesity Federation’s calls for the development of national obesity action plans around the world.

 

Prof. Louise Baur, President of the World Obesity Federation, said: “This year's Atlas is a clear warning that by failing to address obesity today, we risk serious repercussions in the future. It is particularly worrying to see obesity rates rising fastest among children and adolescents. Governments and policymakers around the world need to do all they can to avoid passing health, social, and economic costs on to the younger generation. That means looking urgently at the systems and root factors that contribute to obesity, and actively involving young people in the solutions. If we act together now, we have the opportunity to help billions of people in the future.”

 

Rachel Jackson-Leach, Director of Science at World Obesity Federation, said: "If we do not act now, we are on course to see significant increases in obesity prevalence over the next decade. The greatest increases will be seen in low and lower-middle income countries, where scarce resources and lack of preparedness will create a perfect storm that will negatively impact people living with obesity the most.”

 

*Global Obesity Atlas 2023 by World Obesity Federation