Menu
Obesity is a disease and a major driver of many health conditions. Around 43 million adults lose their lives each year because of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). More than 3.5 million of these losses link to high BMI (≥25 kg/m²).
Have you noticed how everyday routines have changed in the past decade? Many of us move less. We often eat foods high in calories and low in nutrients. This pattern is fueling rising obesity rates across the globe.
Scientists predict 1.9 billion people will be living with obesity by 2035. That’s almost a quarter of the global population. This crisis will carry an economic impact of around $4.32 trillion. It also puts children at risk. Childhood obesity may double between 2020 and 2035.
Obesity contributes to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and other conditions. When we think of overweight and obesity, we’re looking at risk factors for problems with mental health, liver and kidney disease, and neurological disorders. The numbers paint a stark picture.
More than 400 million disability-adjusted life years worldwide link to heart disease and stroke. Obesity causes inflammation and raises blood lipids. This accelerates atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Obesity also plays a part in hypertension, causing 65% to 78% of high blood pressure cases.
Around 80% of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients also live with obesity. Some data show severe obesity can raise the lifetime risk of T2D to 70%-75%.
Southeast Asia faces a high burden of obesity-linked T2D, and many countries there lack solid healthcare infrastructures to cope.
Scientists connect obesity with at least 13 forms of cancer. That’s 4%-8% of all new cancer cases globally. As obesity rates climb, rates of endometrial, breast, and colorectal cancers rise too. Healthcare costs follow the same trend, placing added stress on health systems.
Obesity worsens asthma and sleep apnoea. Regions like Africa and Southeast Asia may see a double blow: under-resourced health systems and rising obesity. A targeted approach to obesity will help manage many respiratory conditions more effectively.
Excess weight can lead to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Up to 90% of adults with severe obesity may face MASLD. Obesity also increases the severity of pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease. As obesity spikes, so will these digestive diseases, especially where policies don’t address prevention.
Mid-life obesity raises the chance of Alzheimer’s in later life. It also increases the risk of multiple sclerosis. This data suggests improved food environments and stronger healthcare policies could lower these risks.
Many individuals with obesity also experience depression or anxiety. Weight stigma can worsen mental health. Obesity also increases strain on bones and joints. Osteoarthritis is set to rise significantly in communities where proper care for obesity remains limited.
We can offer coordinated care. We can shape policy. We can reduce weight stigma and focus on better nutrition and exercise. We can push for new treatments and early interventions. This goal requires collaboration among governments, healthcare providers, and companies like ours.
World Obesity Day calls for a stronger response. By addressing the systems around us—healthcare, government policies, workplaces, and more—we can reduce the growing burden of obesity. Each step forward helps us prevent and manage chronic illnesses. This is not just an individual effort. It’s a collective mission to create healthier lives for all.
ICPA Health Products Ltd marks World Obesity Day by sharing the World Obesity Federations key messages and spotlighting this growing global concern.
4 thoughts on “World Obesity Day: Spotlight on a Global Challenge”
bvl79h
gf1i55
cl4fl6
pu475o