By 2035, over 4 billion people worldwide will be obese, which is over 51% of the global population. Childhood obesity in India is likely to rise 9.1% annually by 2035. World Obesity Atlas 2023 reports.
Global overweight and obesity
The World Obesity Federation has warned that by the year 2035, more than half the population of the world will be obese or overweight. World obesity atlas estimates by 2035 over 4 billion people would be affected, compared with over 2.6 billion in 2020. This reflects an increase from 38% of the world’s population in 2020 to over 50% by 2035.
The prevalence of obesity alone is anticipated to rise from 14% to 24% of the population. Over the same period, affecting nearly 2 billion adults, children, and adolescents by 2035. Obesity is to be steepest among children and adolescents, rising from 10% to 20%. Obesity among boys and girls in India is likely to see an annual rise of 9.1 percent by 2035.
India is to witness a very high rise in adult and childhood obesity.
The risk of obesity
The report World Obesity Atlas 2023, published by World Obesity Federation, showed that in 2020 boys had a 3 percent obesity risk, but by 2035, the risk will likely go up by 12 percent and for girls, the risk was 2 percent in 2020, but in 2035, it will rise to 7 percent.
Boys are likely to see a 100 percent increase, while girls can see a 125 percent increase in the risk of obesity.
The Childhood Obesity
More than adults, childhood obesity could more than double by 2035. Boys are likely to see a 100 percent increase, while girls can see a 125 percent increase in the risk of obesity. Over 1.5 billion adults and nearly 400 million children will be living with obesity in 12 years’ time unless significant action is taken.
Indian women in 2020 had a 7 per cent risk, by 2035, it will rise to 13 per cent. Men, on the other hand, had a 4 per cent risk in 2020, it will rise to 8 per cent in 2025.
Women at risk
Indian women in 2020 had a 7 percent risk, by 2035, it will rise to 13 percent. Men, on the other hand, had a 4 percent risk in 2020, it will rise to 8 percent in 2025.
Impact on Economy
The economic impact of overweight and obesity is 1.96 trillion dollars in 2020 rising to over 4 trillion dollars in 2035. The economic impact may reduce global GDP by 2.4% rising to 2.9% by 2035. The report predicts the cost of obesity will amount to more than $4tn ( ₹32,70,31,40,00,00,000) annually by 2035.
The findings estimate that rises in obesity rates around the world will have a significant impact on the global economy, equating to 3% of the global Gross Domestic Product.
Low-income countries
Children and adolescents in low-income countries are likely to experience a dramatic increase in obesity status from 2020 to 2035, from 4% to 13% of girls, and from 2% to 6% of boys.
Nine of the 10 countries with the greatest expected increases in obesity globally are low or lower-middle-income states in Africa and Asia.
The average obesity in adults will double over the period, from 5% to 11% of men, and from 14% to 26% of women. The economic impact of high BMI may reach US$ 9 billion annually by 2035, equivalent to over 1% of low-income countries’ GDP.
Reasons include trends in dietary preferences towards more highly processed foods, greater levels of sedentary behavior, weaker policies to control food supply and marketing, and less well-resourced healthcare services to assist in weight management and health education.
Impact on India
The economic impact of being overweight on India by 2035 will be 129 billion dollars. The impact is on a scale of 1.8 % of the GDP.
