A comprehensive global analysis, which includes data from India, has revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among both adults aged 25 and older and children and adolescents aged 5 to 24 has more than doubled over the past three decades. According to a study published in The Lancet, by 2021, an estimated 2.11 billion adults and 493 million young people worldwide were classified as overweight or obese.
The study highlights significant variations in weight gain across different regions, with more than half of the world’s adults with overweight or obesity residing in just eight countries. These include China, which recorded 402 million affected individuals, followed by India with 180 million, the United States with 172 million, Brazil with 88 million, Russia with 71 million, Mexico with 58 million, Indonesia with 52 million, and Egypt with 41 million.
Projections from the Global Burden of Disease Study BMI Collaborators, also published in The Lancet, indicate that without urgent policy changes and preventive measures, the global burden of obesity will continue to escalate. By 2050, approximately 60 percent of adults, equating to 3.8 billion people, and nearly a third (31 percent) of children and adolescents, or about 746 million, are expected to be either overweight or obese.
The report also warns of the disproportionate impact on certain regions. By 2050, one in three young individuals classified as obese—approximately 130 million—are projected to be from North Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, or the Caribbean. These increases are expected to lead to severe health, economic, and societal repercussions.
The study further estimates that nearly a quarter of the world’s adults with obesity in 2050 will be 65 years or older. This shift is likely to place an even greater burden on already strained healthcare systems, particularly in low-resource nations where medical services may struggle to cope with rising cases of obesity-related illnesses.
Lead author Professor Emmanuela Gakidou from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington in the U.S. described the global obesity epidemic as both a profound tragedy and a major societal failure. “The unprecedented global epidemic of overweight and obesity is a profound tragedy and a monumental societal failure,” Gakidou stated.
She further emphasized the importance of using country-specific estimates to guide interventions, ensuring that both prevention and treatment strategies are targeted effectively. “Governments and the public health community can use our country-specific estimates on the stage, timing, and speed of current and forecasted transitions in weight to identify priority populations experiencing the greatest burdens of obesity who require immediate intervention and treatment, and those that remain predominantly overweight and should be primarily targeted with prevention strategies,” she added.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also recently addressed the growing obesity crisis during the 119th episode of his radio program Mann Ki Baat. Highlighting the health risks associated with excessive weight gain, he urged the nation to take preventive measures against obesity-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.
“To become a fit and healthy nation, we will certainly have to deal with the problem of obesity. According to a study, one in every eight people today is troubled by the problem of obesity,” PM Modi emphasized.
The study’s findings stress the urgent need for immediate intervention to counteract the rising obesity epidemic. Without substantial reforms in public health policies and more effective action plans, obesity and overweight cases are expected to skyrocket.
By 2050, if current trends persist, more than half of the world’s adult population—3.8 billion individuals—will be classified as overweight or obese. In addition, one-third of children and adolescents, amounting to 746 million, are projected to be in the same category. These figures present an unprecedented threat to public health, increasing the likelihood of premature diseases and deaths on local, national, and global scales.
The study further predicts an alarming 121 percent rise in obesity among children and adolescents worldwide. By 2050, the total number of young individuals with obesity is expected to reach 360 million, which is an increase of 186 million from 2021.
The anticipated surge in obesity rates between 2022 and 2030 underscores the need for immediate intervention. Without timely action, the global obesity crisis will continue to intensify, straining healthcare systems, increasing economic costs, and posing serious risks to public health worldwide.
