On May 29, 2014 the online news provider Medical News Today depicts in a new article that worldwide obesity rates have increased by almost 30 and 50% in adults and children, respectively, according to a new study (Ng et al. 2014). The study led by Emmanuela Gakidou of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, U.S. conducted a review of surveys, reports and scientific literature on overweight and obesity prevalence among children aged 2-19 and adults above 20 years between 1980 and 2013. They included surveys based on measured as well as self-reported weight. According to the findings the number of overweight people increased from 857 million to 2.1 billion; 671 of these are obese with a body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m2. 50% of obese people live in only 10 countries, including the U.S. and Germany. In Tonga, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, the Pacific Islands of Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia and Samoa more than 50% of men and women are obese. However, in developed countries the rate of increase in adult obesity has slowed down. The researchers state that global leadership is needed to implement strategies reducing obesity.
Read more
Honor Whitman (May 29, 2014). “Worldwide obesity rates see ‘startling’ increase over past 3 decades.” Medical News Today.
Reference
Ng, m 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.” The Lancet (published online May 29, 2014).
