We see it almost everywhere – OBESITY IS A NORMAL THING FOR OUR GENERATION. Obese people have outnumbered those who are underweight. The obesity rate among American adults hit 38% – that’s a 3% increase from 2012. Many people consider obesity to be a cosmetic issue, but the health ramifications of obesity should not be taken for granted. The sole fact that 1 in 5 U.S. deaths is now related to obesity should really alarm everyone.
A Quick Glance at Figures
Obesity rates have increased dramatically around the globe over the past four decades. A study shows these results:
*In 2014, 641 million people were obese, as compared to 1975, when only 105 million were obese. A whopping 55 million is the total number for those who are morbidly obese now.
*That time frame shows that obesity tripled among men and doubled among women. The number of people who are underweight slightly decreased – from about 14% in 1975 down to about 9% in 2014.
*An estimated 20% of the global adult population, 40% of British and nearly 45% of American adults will be obese by 2025.
Worldwide Failure to Counteract Obesity
The global average body mass index (BMI) is just over 24. A BMI of 25 to 29 is considered to be overweight, while a BMI of 30 to 39 is considered obese. Anything over 40 is considered morbidly obese. According to a British study author, Majid Ezzati, we are living in a world wherein obesity is more prevalent than underweight. The study concludes that government policies and interventions have failed to offset obesity rates in most countries. We have failed to avoid an epidemic of severe obesity and the next step must be to implement these policies and systematically assess their effect.
Global Diabetes Rates Also Increasing
It comes as no surprise to know that with obesity being a major risk factor for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes that diabetes rates are skyrocketing as well. Dr. Etienne Krug, the World Health Organization (WHO) official who is in charge of leading efforts against diabetes stated, “The world is facing an unrelenting march of diabetes which now affects nearly 1 in 11 adults worldwide.”
Based on the statistics from WHO, the rates for diabetes quadrupled between 1980 and 2014 – from 108 million to 422 million. The greatest increase has occurred in the Middle East, where diabetes rates have increased from just fewer than 6 million people in 1980 to nearly 43 million people in 2014. Similar to obesity, WHO officials warn that diabetes rates will continue to increase unless there are ‘drastic actions’ taken.
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