A new global study has warned that nearly 60% of adults and one-third of children worldwide could be overweight or obese by 2050 if governments fail to take urgent action.
Published in The Lancet medical journal, the research analyzed data from 204 countries and highlighted the rapid rise of obesity as a major health crisis. Researchers revealed that the number of overweight or obese people globally grew from 929 million in 1990 to 2.6 billion in 2021. If the trend continues, this figure is expected to reach 3.8 billion adults within the next 15 years.
Experts warned that healthcare systems will face immense pressure, particularly with an increasing number of elderly people living with obesity. By 2050, around a quarter of obese individuals are expected to be over the age of 65. Alarmingly, childhood obesity is also projected to soar by 121%, with many cases concentrated in regions such as North Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Despite the concerning outlook, researchers say it is still possible to reverse the trend. They are calling for stronger government action to promote healthier diets, encourage physical activity, and improve living environments.
Currently, more than half of the world’s overweight and obese adults are concentrated in just eight countries, including China, India, the United States, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, and Egypt.
The study, part of the Global Burden of Disease project led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address what it calls a “monumental societal failure.”
