WILLAGRI
A study published in The Lancet warns of the continued rise of obesity and overweight worldwide. If no action is taken, about 60% of adults and a third of children will be affected by this problem by 2050. In 2021, 2.1 billion adults and nearly 500 million children were affected by overweight and obesity. Obesity is defined by a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, while overweight is defined by a BMI greater than 25. Obesity puts you at increased risk for diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. The prevalence of obesity has more than doubled in 30 years, with alarming rates in some regions such as the Middle East, North Africa and Oceania. Causes of the scourge include urbanization, increased consumption of processed foods, and sedentary lifestyle. By 2050, nearly 87% of women in Egypt could be obese. In China, overweight could affect nearly two-thirds of the population. The rise in childhood obesity could outpace that of overweight, with predictions that 16.5% of boys aged 5 to 14 could be obese by 2050. The researchers call for urgent measures to combat this pandemic, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Interventions must be put in place to promote balanced diets and regulate the consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Source : The Lancet