AsianScientist (Jun 9, 2014) – In an international study reports a significant rise in the prevalence of both obese and overweight individuals around the world. The most comprehensive of its kind to date, the study shows that the number of obese or overweight people has more than doubled to 2.1 billion between 1980 and 2013. The full findings have been published in The Lancet.
Regional and national increments in obesity and overweight rates have been observed in recent years, but updated information on global figures and trends have been lacking. To address this gap, an international team of researchers, led by Professor Emmanuela Gakidou from the University of Washington, USA, studied body mass index data over a thirty year period between 1980 and 2013. The data was compiled from 188 countries, with parameters such as gender, age and geography incorporated into the analysis.
The study showed that over 60 percent of the world’s obese individuals are located in developing countries. China and India are among the top three countries with the most number of obese people, with 46 and 30 million persons respectively, while America takes the top spot at 87 million.
Although adult obesity rates appear to have slowed in developed nations, childhood obesity has become significantly more pervasive in both developing and developed countries. Overall, the highest climb in global overweight and obesity rates was found to have occurred between 1992 and 2002, in adults aged 20 to 40.
The study authors hope that their research will encourage action and leadership at an international level, as their findings confirm that obesity is now a significant global health risk. They note that a concerted effort will be necessary to address the continuing, substantial surge in global obesity.
The article can be found at: Gakidou et al. (2014) Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.
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