The challenge of obesity

The WHO has described obesity as the largest global chronic health problem in adults worldwide.¹ In 2015 WHO data, obesity among European adults (BMI ≥ 30) was 21.5% in males and 24.5% in females.¹

World Mean Body Mass Index (kg/m²), ages 18+, 2014 (age standardized estimate)
Female²

World Mean Body Mass Index (kg/m²), ages 18+, 2014 (age standardized estimate)
Male³

Future Estimates of Obesity

Overweight and obesity are becoming more widespread, with global projections of more than 2.16 billion overweight and 1.12 billion obese individuals by 2030. This worldwide clinical and public health burden is also correlated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, and mortality.⁴

The worldwide prevalence of diabetes among adults (aged 20–79 years) was 6.4% in 2010, affecting about 285 million adults. This prevalence is projected to increase to 7.7% and approximately 439 million adults by 2030.⁵

Worldwide projections of diabetes prevalence for 2040 vs 2015⁶

References