Global Obesity Epidemic, 3.8 Billion Adults to Be Overweight by 2050

A major study has warned that if immediate action is not taken, 60% of adults and one-third of children worldwide will be overweight or obese by 2050.

The research, published in The Lancet, analyzed data from 204 countries and labeled obesity as one of the biggest health challenges of the century.

Lead author Emmanuela Gakidou from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) described the crisis as a “global tragedy and a monumental societal failure.”

According to the study, the number of overweight or obese individuals increased from 929 million in 1990 to 2.6 billion in 2021. Without significant intervention, this figure is expected to reach 3.8 billion by 2050.

Experts warn that the growing obesity crisis will place an immense burden on healthcare systems, with one-fourth of the world’s obese population aged over 65 by 2050.

The study also predicts a 121% increase in obesity among children and adolescents, with a significant concentration of obese youth in North Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Researchers urge governments to implement stronger policies that promote healthier diets, physical activity, and restrictions on highly processed foods to counteract this epidemic.