A large-scale international study has found that while the global obesity rate is slowing down in developed countries, it is actually accelerating in low- and middle-income countries. The researchers noted that obesity should not be viewed solely as a 'global epidemic' but should be approached differently depending on each country, age group, and gender.

The NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), an international research network comprising around 2,000 scientists worldwide, published its findings in the journal Nature on May 14. The team analyzed height and weight data from 232 million people, collected in 200 countries and regions between 1980 and 2024.

A large-scale international study has found that while the global obesity rate increase is slowing in developed countries, it is actually accelerating in low- and middle-income countries. A reference photo to help understand the article. Provided by Pixabay

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The study found that, although obesity rates have risen in almost every country over the past 45 years, the rate and pattern of increase varied significantly by nation.

High-income countries such as Western Europe, North America, and Australasia saw rapid increases in the 1980s and 1990s, but in recent years the growth has either slowed or plateaued. In some Western European countries, the adult obesity rate has stabilized at around 11-23%, while childhood and adolescent obesity rates have also tended to stagnate at around 4-15%.

By contrast, in some Central European and Latin American countries, adult obesity rates have soared to 30-40%. The researchers analyzed that the rapid rise in obesity in low- and middle-income countries results from a combination of factors: economic growth, urbanization, the spread of ultra-processed foods, and reduced physical activity.

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In the case of South Korea, the overall trend of rising obesity rates continued, but the rate of increase has been relatively moderate, according to the researchers. However, the pattern of increase differed by gender.

Suh Youngkyo, Principal Researcher at the Aging Convergence Research Group at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, told the Science and Media Communication Center (SMCK), "This study shows that there is a powerful obesogenic force driving obesity worldwide," adding, "While high-income countries are seeing a slowdown, low- and middle-income countries are witnessing the onset of an obesity epidemic."

She continued, "In the future, the main focus of the global obesity problem is likely to shift to low- and middle-income countries. If economic growth and urbanization are combined with the spread of ultra-processed foods, even countries with currently low obesity rates could see a rapid rise."

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Marie Spreckley, Research Program Manager at the University of Cambridge (UK), commented, "The key point of this study is not that obesity is no longer an important public health issue, but that the trajectory of obesity differs from country to country."

She added, "While some high-income countries have shown signs of a slowdown or stabilization in the rise of obesity, the high prevalence itself remains a significant societal burden. Understanding why some countries fare relatively better will be a core task for future obesity policy and prevention strategies."