New research published in The Lancet revealed that more than 200 million Americans are either overweight or obese.
“The increase in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents is particularly concerning,” the study says, explaining that nearly 20% of Americans between the ages of 2-19 have lived with obesity.
“The effect of obesity among the younger population in the USA is becoming evident, with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors having increased over the past three decades, despite appearing steady in recent years,” it notes, adding that type 2 diabetes has “nearly doubled over the past two decades.”
In 2021, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was over 40% “in both sexes combined,” the research indicated.
The study went on to forecast rates of obesity through 2050, claiming that if current rates persist, more than 43 million children and adolescents will be overweight and obese by 2050.
One in three adolescents and two in three adults are projected to have obesity by 2050, or more than 250 million Americans, the researchers noted.
The study further estimated that as many as 80% of the adult population will face these health issues.
“Our study highlights the need for greater investment in obesity prevention,” the study’s researchers wrote. “The national and subnational analysis of historical trends highlights decades-long failure in tackling the epidemic.”
The researchers recommended that prevention become a “much more dominant focus of obesity control” among children.
“Government policy priorities should be directed to funding-controlled intervention studies, including for maternal preconception obesity, given the scarcity of current evidence and investment,” the study said.
A March study from the World Obesity Foundation estimated that 51% of the global population would be overweight by 2035.
