Obesity Rates Across the World Surge, Study Says 1 Billion People Affected Globally

Obesity is a complex medical problem that can increase the risk of many acute as well as chronic health conditions. It is a common risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, sleep apnea, hypertension, bad cholesterol levels, reproductive issues, poor bone health and even cancer.

According to the World Health Organisation, in 2022, 2.5 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight, including over 890 million adults who were living with obesity. This corresponds to 43% of adults aged 18 years and over (43% of men and 44% of women) who were overweight; an increase from 1990, when 25% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight.

A recent analysis published in the Lancet journal highlighted that the total number of children, adolescents and adults living with obesity has surpassed one billion globally.