May 11th marks World Obesity Day, a timely reminder of the escalating global obesity issue. The World Obesity Federation, based in London, UK, recently released the 2025 Global Obesity Map, painting a concerning picture. The number of overweight and obese individuals worldwide has been on a relentless rise. In 2010, there were 1.6 billion overweight and obese adults, which grew to 2 billion in 2015. Projections based on the current trajectory suggest that by 2030, nearly 3 billion adults globally could be overweight or obese, constituting around half of the world’s population aged 18 and above. This staggering data has spurred the organization to urge all countries to take immediate and decisive action, hastening the implementation of key policies to combat obesity and jointly mitigate its far – reaching impacts on public health and the global economy and society.
The World Obesity Federation, dedicated to global obesity prevention and control, aims to heighten international awareness of obesity – related problems and drive countermeasures through education and policy – making. Their report includes comprehensive statistics and future forecasts on the prevalence and trends of non – communicable diseases associated with overweight and obesity from 2000 to 2030. Joanna Rolton, the CEO of the World Obesity Federation, pointed out that the 2024 data reveals the Americas, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific region as the hotspots with the highest number of disabilities and fatalities due to overweight and obesity. “Obese patients often require lifelong medical attention, placing a heavy burden on national healthcare systems,” she emphasized.
Simon Barkla, the president of the World Obesity Federation, stressed that obesity is not just a weight issue but “a serious disease” in its own right and a major risk factor for non – communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke. “The annual death toll from obesity exceeds that from traffic accidents,” he stated. The report indicates that approximately 4 million people die each year globally due to obesity – related health problems. Alarmingly, it is projected that by 2030, 93% of countries will face shortages of medical resources when dealing with this growing epidemic.
In the report, the organization also evaluated the implementation of five crucial policies to address obesity. Regrettably, it was found that two – thirds of countries around the world have either not implemented these policies at all or have only put one of them into practice. These five policies are as follows: taxing sugary beverages, taxing foods high in sugar, fat, and salt, providing subsidies for healthy foods, restricting the promotion of unhealthy foods to children, and promoting physical activities through taxes and incentives. Joanna Rolton called on the international community to collaborate and take comprehensive, transformative measures to build a healthier future for all. She believes that changing people’s unhealthy eating habits and encouraging regular physical exercise will not only lower the obesity rate but also contribute to reducing the prevalence of non – communicable diseases.
According to Simon Barkla, the fourth High – level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non – communicable Diseases is scheduled to be held in September this year. During this meeting, representatives from various countries will review the progress made in tackling obesity and formulate the next phase of global strategies for non – communicable diseases. “Currently, we are at a critical juncture in the fight against obesity.
Prioritizing actions is a golden opportunity to reduce the global impact of non – communicable diseases,” Simon Barkla said.
World Obesity Day serves as a clarion call for individuals, communities, and governments worldwide. It is high time that we recognize the severity of the obesity crisis and work together. By implementing the proposed policies, promoting healthy lifestyles, and raising public awareness, we can hope to reverse the current trend of the growing obesity epidemic and build a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.
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