According to a report, more than half of adults and a third of children and young people around the world are expected to be overweight or obese by 2050. This poses a serious threat to early death, disease, and healthcare systems. The report found that there are 2.11 billion adults aged 25 or above and 493 million children and young people aged five to 24 who are currently overweight or obese, compared to 731 million adults and 198 million children in 1990. Without urgent policy reform, it is predicted that more than half of those aged 25 or above (3.8 billion) and about a third of all children and young people (746 million) will be affected by 2050. The study suggests a particularly alarming rise in obesity among children and younger people, with numbers projected to reach 360 million by 2050. The researchers also noted that obesity prevalence varies across the globe, with more than half of affected adults living in eight countries: China, India, the US, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, and Egypt. The report urges for public health interventions worldwide to address the scale of the obesity crisis and warns of its significant health, economic, and societal impacts, particularly in low-resourced countries.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/03/more-than-half-of-adults-worldwide-obese-by-2050-report-says