According to medical reports, the likelihood of an increase in the number of suffering from obesity worldwide is expected to rise significantly in the next two decades. Estimates from a new study indicate that by 2050, around 60% of adults over the age of 25 and more than 30% of children and youth will suffer from obesity.
If these trends continue, the report predicts that by 2050 there will be around 3.8 billion adults and 746 million young people globally affected by the problem of obesity, which will lead to an increase in morbidity, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The report, published in the journal 'Lancet', calls for governments to adopt operational measures regarding the implementation of action plans, including food education, improving transportation infrastructure, and regulating high-calorie products.
The level of obesity among children and adolescents has tripled, with the highest growth rates in South-East Asia, Eastern Asia, and Oceania. China, India, and the USA showed the highest absolute figures of adults with obesity or overweight. Factors driving this, according to the research, include economic growth, widespread availability of high-calorie products, and a sedentary lifestyle.
The conducted research, conducted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the 'Global Obesity Prevalence Study 2021', analyzed data from 1990 to 2021 and predicts a continuation of current trends. The results showed that the number of adults with obesity or overweight increased from 731 million in 1990 to 2.11 billion in 2021.
