The worldwide obesity epidemic is expected to increase

By 2050, more than half of middle-aged adults around the world could be overweight. This is based on the fact that one in three teenagers is currently overweight. This was reported by The Guardian.

The problem of excess weight can pose serious health risks, leading to premature death and the early onset of various diseases.

According to the analysis presented by the Lancet, the problem of excess weight in humans has increased in the past 30 years due to many factors. Get to know the factors that cause the problem below:

Energy imbalance: The main cause of excess weight is when the energy intake from food exceeds the body's energy expenditure.
Unhealthy diet: Eating high-carb foods (pastries, sweets), as well as unhealthy foods such as fast food, can lead to excess weight.
Inactivity: An unhealthy lifestyle, i.e., low physical activity, is one of the most common causes of excess weight.
Genetic factors: Genes are one of the main factors that cause excess weight. Some genetic mutations can predispose a person to overeat.
Endocrine diseases: Diseases such as hypothyroidism and insulinoma can cause excess weight.
Psychological factors: Stress and depression can increase cortisol levels and lead to excess weight.
Social and environmental factors: Parents' attitude towards unhealthy eating, social habits.

Studies show that 2.11 billion people aged 25 and over and 493 million people aged 5 to 24 are currently overweight, up 731 million and 198 million respectively from 1990.

It is estimated that by 2050, more than half of people aged 25 and over (3.8 billion) and 746 million people under 24 could be overweight.

The study notes that obesity among children and adolescents is increasing at an alarming rate, with the number of people living with obesity expected to reach 360 million by 2050.

The unprecedented global epidemic of overweight is a profound tragedy and a monumental social failure, says Emmanuelle Gakidou, a professor at the University of Washington.

The figures in the study vary across countries. More than half of the world's overweight people live in just eight countries:

- China (402 million);
- India (180 million);
- USA (172 million);
- Brazil (88 million);
- Russia (71 million);
- Mexico (58 million);
- Indonesia (52 million);
- Egypt (41 million).

According to the analysis, by 2050, one in three children and adolescents will be living in the regions with the "overweight crisis" - North Africa and the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The researchers noted that in the future, children will gain weight faster than their ancestors, and they will develop diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer at a younger age.

For example, in high-income countries, 7 percent of men born in the 1960s were obese by the age of 25. This figure is expected to rise to 16 percent for those born in the 1990s and 25 percent for those born in 2015.

The problem of excess weight also has a significant impact on the economy of countries. According to an analysis by the World Obesity Federation, it is a serious threat for low-income countries. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”