Overweight and Obesity: International Facts

The World Health Organization reports that we are facing a global epidemic of overweight and obesity:

• 1.1 billion people are overweight;
• 300 million people are obese;
• 155 million children are overweight including 22 million children under the age of 5;
• 40 million children are obese.

Where is this happening?

The prevalence of overweight and obesity have increased three-fold since 1980 in the US, the United Kingdom, Western and Eastern Europe, Australsia, the Pacific Islands, the Middle East and China.  Overweight and obesity is also happening in developing countries.  Overweight and obesity can co-exist with malnutrition in developing countries. 

Why is this happening?

As in US, overweight and obesity are complex conditions with social, economic, medical, genetic, behavioral and psychological components. 

The primary causes of overweight and obesity are thought to be increased consumption of foods high in saturated fat, high in sugar and reduced physical activity. (see more on Contributors to Overweight and Obesity: Nutrition) Some of the reasons for this increased consumption include:

• Economic growth
• Urbanization, resulting in shifts in diet away from complex carbohydrates to a diet higher in saturated fats and sugars
• Modernization, including automation of work and transport causing reduced physical activity, and
• Globalization of food markets.

What are the consequences of overweight and obesity?

Overweight and obesity are major contributors to chronic illness and disability, including Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer.  Other health impacts of overweight and obesity include:

• Respiratory problems and asthma
• Chronic musculoskeletal problems such as osteoarthritis
• Skin problems
• Infertility
• Low self-esteem
• Depression and other psychological disorders

Although overall BMI is important, it is also believed that the distribution of fat is equally important.  In particular, excess abdominal fat has been associated with chronic illnesses associated with obesity even when BMI is low.  This has been found in Asian and Indian societies.

(Source: The Global Challenge and the International Obesity Task Force )

Costs of Overweight and Obesity:

The World Health Organization reports that in some developing countries, obesity accounts for 2-6% of all medical costs.  This number does not include all medical conditions associated with obesity, costs associated with overweight, or other non-medical costs, so the true costs would be higher.  Read more about the economic consequences of overweight and obesity on this site.

Additional Resources

• World Health Organization
• International Association for the Study of Obesity
• International Obesity Task Force
• The Global Challenge and the International Obesity Task Force
• International Journal of Obesity

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Page last updated: 09/30/2006

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