Recent research has shown obesity to be a troubling global problem, the highest obesity rate in nations like American Samoa the most.
It is generally thought that obesity is a problem of Western countries while the inhabitants of poor countries often suffer from lack of food, but the reality on the ground is not so simple.
According to a recent global estimate published in the British journal The Lancet, more than one billion people worldwide are obese, which can cause some dangerous diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
A study reviewed data collected in 2022, according to which around 88 million adults and 159 million children worldwide are obese.
Surprisingly, the South Pacific island states of Tonga, Nauru, and American Samoa have the highest rates of obesity, with rates ranging from 70 to 80 percent.
The study analyzed obesity in nearly 190 countries, showing that obesity rates vary by age.
In terms of obesity rates, the UK ranks 55th for men and 87th for women, while the US ranks 10th for men and 36th for women. Similarly, India is ranked 19th for women and 21st for men and China is ranked 11th for women and 52nd for men.
Statistics from 1990 to 2022 reveal that obesity rates among children and adolescents have increased 4-fold, in contrast, the rate has more than doubled among adults and women, and nearly 3-fold among men.
Dr. Guha Pradeepa, co-author of the study, says obesity is a serious global problem.
“Climate change, disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic increased poverty from the war in Ukraine and rising food prices are increasing rates of both obesity and underweight,” he said.
According to experts, changes in the way we deal with obesity are urgently needed because it increases the risk of many serious diseases, including diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.