1 Billion People Worldwide Are Obese... 43% of Adults Are 'Overweight'

The global obese population has exceeded 1 billion, more than doubling since 1990.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report containing this information in the medical journal The Lancet on the 1st (local time). According to the report, as of 2022, approximately 879 million adults and 159 million children and adolescents were identified as obese.

Compared to 1990, the obese population has more than doubled overall, and the number of obese children and adolescents has increased about fourfold. It was found that 43% of adults worldwide were overweight as of 2022.

WHO classifies obesity as a form of malnutrition. This means that not only undernutrition causing underweight but also obesity resulting from excessive calorie intake reflects nutritional imbalance.

The report pointed out, "Regions with high proportions of both underweight and obese populations include North America, the Middle East, Caribbean island nations, and Africa," and "It reminds us that the poorest countries have large populations of both underweight and obese individuals, indicating a need for changes in countermeasures."

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "This analysis highlights the need to manage obesity from early life through adulthood," adding, "Achieving the goal of curbing obesity requires efforts and cooperation from governments, communities, and international organizations." He also mentioned, "Obesity is a complex chronic disease that requires national-level intervention, but many countries are not yet doing so."

WHO proposed that countries should promote breastfeeding, regulate marketing of harmful food and beverages, restrict sales of products excessively containing fats, sugars, and salt, and implement nutrition labeling policies to curb obesity.

Additionally, it emphasized the need to integrate obesity prevention and management services into primary healthcare and to raise awareness of healthy diets and exercise through public education.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.