A new study by Lancet has showed that more than one billion people in the World are now living obesity which has been more than double since 1990 while the data revealed that 43 percent of the adults were overweight in 2022.
According to World Health Organisation in a statement released also disclosed that the obesity has quadrupled among children and adolescents between the age of 5 to 19years.
The study also shows that even though the rates of undernutrition have dropped, it is still a public health challenge in many places, particularly in South-East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Countries with the highest combined rates of underweight and obesity in 2022 were island nations in the Pacific and the Caribbean and those in the Middle East and North Africa.
WHO stated that malnutrition, in all its forms, includes undernutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight), inadequate vitamins, minerals, overweight and obesity.
Adding that undernutrition is responsible for half of the deaths of children under 5 and obesity can cause noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and some cancers.
The WHO Director-General, Dr Tedro Ghebreyesus in his reaction said, “This new study highlights importance of preventing and managing obesity from early life to adulthood, through diet, physical activity, and adequate care, as needed.
“Getting back on track to meet the global targets for curbing obesity will take the work of governments and communities, supported by evidence-based policies from WHO and national public health agencies.
“Importantly, it requires the cooperation of private sector, which must be accountable for the health impacts of their products”, Dr Tedro Ghebreyesus added.
Director of WHO’s Nutrition and Food Safety Department and one of the co-authors of the study, Dr Francesco Branca said, “There are significant challenges in implementing policies aimed at ensuring affordable access to healthy diets for all, creating environments that promote physical activity and overall healthy lifestyles for everyone.
“”Countries should also ensure that health systems integrate the prevention and management of obesity into the basic package of services”, she stated.
Addressing undernutrition requires multisectoral action in agriculture, social protection and health, reduce food insecurity, improve access to clean water and sanitation and ensure universal access to essential nutrition interventions.
WHO noted that obesity is a complex chronic disease and the causes are well understood, as are the interventions needed to contain the crisis, which are backed by strong evidence are not implemented.
