A recent global analysis conducted by over 1,500 researchers from various organizations has revealed some alarming statistics about the prevalence of obesity worldwide. According to the research, more than 1 billion children, adolescents, and adults are living with obesity, making it the most common form of malnutrition in many countries.
One of the key findings of the analysis is the rapid transition from underweight to obesity in low-income and middle-income countries, which is driving the increase in obesity rates globally. In fact, the number of people living with obesity has already surpassed previous estimates for 2030.
The study also highlighted the concerning trend of obesity rates increasing fourfold among children and adolescents from 1990 to 2022. Currently, obesity rates are higher than underweight rates in two-thirds of the world’s countries, with low-income and middle-income countries, particularly in certain regions, experiencing higher obesity rates than wealthy industrialized countries.
In order to address this global malnutrition issue, policy interventions focusing on both obesity and underweight are crucial. Public policies should prioritize promoting breastfeeding, regulating food marketing, and providing nutritious food in public institutions. Improving monitoring of food manufacturers and ensuring access to healthy food for all are also key aspects of public policy in combating obesity.
Countries that have implemented policy changes targeting obesity have already seen encouraging results. It is clear that concerted efforts at the policy level are necessary to tackle the growing problem of obesity on a global scale.
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