Number of obese to reach a billion

A billion people globally will be living with obesity by 2030, doubling numbers, a report warns today.

This would include 20% of women and 14% of men, according to the World Obesity Federation.

Marking World Obesity Day, the Federation called for a global action plan to be adopted when countries meet for the World Health Assembly in May.

It warned that levels of obesity could triple in low income countries between 2010 and 2030, finding that it is high income countries that are best prepared to tackle the spread of obesity. Its estimates are contained in its new World Obesity Atlas 2022.

Although the problem is increasing fastest in low income countries, the report warns of the risk of very high prevalence in some wealthy countries. It finds that about 37% of adults in the UK could be living with obesity by 2030 – with almost the same proportion of men and women affected.

Four countries, the USA, Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, are set to have the highest prevalence, it warns.

The Federation warns that misunderstanding and stigmatisation of obesity all contribute to the failure to tackle the problem.

Chief executive Johanna Ralston said: “Political and public health leaders need to recognise the gravity of the obesity challenge and take action. The numbers in our report are shocking, but what is even more shocking is how inadequate our response has been.

“Everyone has a basic right to prevention, treatment and management access which works for them. Now is the time for joined up, decisive and people centred action to turn the tide on obesity.”

Its president Professor John Wilding added: “For too long we have all failed on obesity, and have witnessed generations of misunderstanding, fragmentation, underinvestment in and stigmatisation of obesity and those affected by it. As a result, the world is catastrophically now off track to meet the WHO 2025 obesity targets which all world leaders committed to in 2013. It is time to deliver a comprehensive, cohesive and integrated approach to prevent and treat obesity.”