The Associated Press reports that obesity has tripled in children and young adults in countries such as Indonesia, China and Brazil.
A new medical study suggests that the world’s weight problem is growing in countries rich and poor alike, especially among children.
The Associated Press reports that obesity has tripled in children and young adults in countries such as Indonesia, China and Brazil. A. P. notes that similar studies also pointed to obesity growth, but the new figures on children offered «startling» numbers.
«The prevalence of obesity among children and adults has doubled in 73 countries since 1980 and has shown a continuous increase in most other countries, » the study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine Monday, June 12, reads.
«Although the prevalence of childhood obesity has been lower than the prevalence of adult obesity, the rate of increase in childhood obesity in many countries has been greater than the rate of increase in adult obesity.»
For the work, researchers looked at data from 68.5 million people between 1980 to 2015 to identify trends in obesity. In 2015, there were 107.7 million obese children and 603.7 million obese adults worldwide. This amount for about 10 percent of the world’s population.
«Since 1980, the prevalence of obesity has doubled in more than 70 countries and has continuously increased in most other countries, » the study reads.»Although the prevalence of obesity among children has been lower than that among adults, the rate of increase in childhood obesity in many countries has been greater than the rate of increase in adult obesity.
«High BMI accounted for 4.0 million deaths globally, nearly 40% of which occurred in persons who were not obese. More than two thirds of deaths related to high BMI were due to cardiovascular disease.»
