Obesity has become one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, with rates soaring to unprecedented levels. By 2022, one in eight people worldwide will be living with obesity—a dramatic increase that has seen adult obesity more than double and teenage rates quadruple since 1990.
This complex health issue affects over 2.5 billion adults globally, with 43% classified as overweight and a staggering 890 million considered obese. The crisis extends beyond adults, with millions of children also affected—37 million under the age of five and 390 million children and teenagers carrying excess weight.
Unhealthy eating, a lack of exercise, environmental conditions, social pressures, and genetics have all played a part in the growing obesity problem. But it’s not just about extra weight—obesity is behind many severe health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. The financial strain is enormous, with costs expected to hit around £3 trillion annually by 2030.
We can start to turn things around by making smarter food choices, getting more active, and improving access to healthcare.
With bold community actions and targeted policies—like those introduced by the World Health Organization in 2022—we have a real chance to tackle this challenge head-on. It’s a problem that requires all of us to work together, and with the proper steps, a healthier future is well within our grasp.
