A new study finds obesity rates are rising globally, with the highest rates in low- and middle-income countries. The number of people classified as obese has doubled among adults and quadrupled among children and adolescents since 1990. More than 1 billion people globally were obese in 2022, the latest year with available data. The study found that obesity rates are higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.

Polynesia and Micronesia have the highest obesity rates in the world, with over 60% of adults classified as obese in 2022.

Turkey has the highest obesity rate for women in Europe (43 percent), while Romania has the highest obesity rate for men in Europe (38 percent). France has the lowest obesity rate in Europe (10 percent). The United States has a significantly higher obesity rate than Europe (44 percent of women and 42 percent of men with a BMI over 30). Childhood obesity rates are also rising, with obese children now outnumbering underweight children in two-thirds of the studied countries. 

Reversing the trend of rising obesity necessitates preventing children and adults from gaining weight in the first place. Effective solutions may require government intervention, which can be politically challenging.

The study published in The Lancet is based on the weight and height measurements of over 220 million people from 190 countries. Obesity is defined as a BMI (Body Mass Index) above 30. BMI is calculated by dividing weight (in kilograms) by the square of height (in meters).

(The Economist)