Global obesity crisis predicted to worsen by 2050

More than half of adults and a third of children worldwide will be overweight or obese by 2050, posing a severe health and economic burden, according to a study published in The Lancet.

The report highlights a dramatic rise in obesity rates over the past three decades, with current figures showing 2.11 billion adults and 493 million young people affected—more than double the numbers recorded in 1990.

Without urgent policy changes, these figures could reach 3.8 billion adults and 746 million children by mid-century, the report warned. Obesity is rising fastest among young people, with the number of children classified as obese expected to grow by 121% to 360 million by 2050.

The crisis is particularly severe in China, India, and the U.S., which together account for nearly half of the world’s overweight population. Experts warn that rising obesity rates will increase cases of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer while overwhelming healthcare systems, particularly in low-income countries where treatment options are limited.