A billion people worldwide fall into obesity category
- By 2022, 28.7% of the British population were considered obese, a significant increase since 1990.
- The obesity rate among American adults surged to 42.9% by 2022, similarly reflecting a worrying trend.
- The rise in obesity levels has raised concerns about public health and the effectiveness of prevention strategies.
Between 1990 and 2022, global obesity levels saw a dramatic increase, with more than a billion individuals classified as obese due to a BMI exceeding 30. In Britain, the obesity rate escalated from 18.5% among adults in 1990 to 28.7% by 2022, pushing the country down to the 74th position in the international obesity ranking. The United States also experienced substantial growth in obesity rates, rising from 18.5% in 1990 to 42.9% in 2022, which elevated its global position to 18th. Countries at the lowest end of the scale, such as Vietnam, Timor-Leste, and Ethiopia, reported obesity rates below 3%, reflecting the complexities of nutrition and food security impacting health outcomes worldwide. There is growing awareness that obesity is a preventable condition, yet its rise continues to be a global health concern exacerbated by factors like food insecurity and lifestyle changes, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.