Health Reporter assessed and ranked the impact of obesity and cultural and socioeconomic factors that promote obesogenic environments. After evaluating the causes, statistics, and predictions of this epidemic, it was found that the countries most affected are the US, the UK, and Australia. The findings and predictions were shocking.
Obesity in the US
The United States is the hardest hit country, with at least 70% of Americans being overweight or obese. On average, 1 in 3 Americans suffers from obesity. It affects both adults and children, as the proportion of overweight children in the United States increased from 18% to 22% between 2011 and 2022.
Weight loss should be a top priority among overweight people, though estimates show that 80% of people who lost 10% of their body weight end up regaining it. Research shows that at least 3 in 5 people need support in losing weight.
Obesity in the UK
A 2008 health report showed that 1 in 4 adults in the UK was obese, and with the current projections, 60% of males and 50% of females will be obese by 2050.
9,000 premature deaths in the UK are due to obesity, accounting for 80% of all deaths. One of the main causes of chronic weight gain in the UK is that an average adult doesn’t know how many calories they consume in a day.
Though most Brits don’t know they are obese, at least 48% of them admitted to trying to lose weight in 2015. The UK ranked #10 among the countries with the highest rates in 2017.
Since the 80s, obesity has been rapidly increasing and is now termed a modern-day plague. At least 8% of all deaths are due to obesity, which is responsible for lifestyle conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. Luckily, we can avert this by adopting healthier lifestyles, being more physically active, and adopting better diets.
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Obesity in Australia
Obesity is a prevalent condition in Australia, and according to 2018 data, it contributed to 8.4% of disease-related conditions. 67% of Australians are obese, and what’s more alarming is that the number of people with a BMI over 40 has risen from 4.9% to 9.4% over the last 20 years.
Obesity is an even bigger burden in regional Australia, where gyms are less accessible. Obesity rates in most Australian cities are at 65%, while in remote Australia, it is at 72.4%.
More information about the study conducted by Health Reporter: Weight Loss and Obesity Statistics in the US, UK, and Australia | HealthReporter