Global Obesity Surpasses One Billion People

The analysis, conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration and the World Health Organization, tracked measurements from over 220 million people across 190 countries. By 2022, the count reached 159 million children and adolescents alongside 879 million adults. This surge coincides with a global decline in the prevalence of underweight individuals, which has fallen significantly since 1990.

Senior author Professor Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London noted that the obesity epidemic once confined to adults is now mirrored in school-aged children. Despite the rising obesity figures, undernutrition remains a critical issue in the world's poorest regions. Addressing this dual burden requires a focus on the availability and affordability of nutritious food, according to the research team. The study highlights that while underweight rates have dropped in countries across South and Southeast Asia, the overall impact of malnutrition remains a persistent health challenge across all age groups.