Obesity (2024)

Definition and Overview

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines overweight and obesity as having “excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health.” There are various methods to calculate body fat, as each range in accuracy and can have limitations. Body mass index (BMI) is one tool used to screen for excessive body fat. A BMI value of more than 25 is categorized as overweight, and a BMI value of more than 30 is categorized as obese.

Why use BMI?

BMI is one of the most widely used screening tools for estimating excess body fat. However, it can be a controversial measure as it only accounts for one’s height and weight and not the amount of, location of, or types of body fat. It does not distinguish between fat mass and fat-free mass (lean body mass) that includes muscle and the body’s tissues and organs, which contribute to total body weight. That said, BMI is simple to measure and noninvasive, and research has shown that BMI often correlates with “gold standard” direct measures of fat mass and fat-free mass such as dual X-ray absorptiometry. Learn more about calculating BMI and other methods of measuring body fat.

Health Impacts

There are negative health impacts associated with excess body fat. The WHO estimates that in 2019, 5 million deaths from noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes were caused by a high BMI, and rates of obesity continue to grow globally in children and adults. [1] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S., 1 in 5 children and 1 in 3 adults has obesity. [2] Children with obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults and the associated risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

What is a healthy BMI in children?

A healthy amount of body fat in children and teens varies based on age as well as sex. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed growth charts for boys and girls ages 2-19 that show the distribution of BMI values at each age. [3] By the CDC’s definition, a child whose BMI falls between the 85th and 94th percentile for age and sex is considered overweight; a BMI at the 95th percentile or higher for age is considered obese. As the rates of obesity rise in children, there is also a category for severe obesity in which the BMI is 120% of the 95th percentile. The American Academy of Pediatrics provides more specific classifications of severe obesity:

  • Class 2 Obesity: BMI ≥120% to <140% of the 95th percentile or BMI ≥35 to <40 kg/m2
  • Class 3 Obesity: BMI ≥140% of the 95th percentile or BMI ≥40 kg/m2

Obesity can negatively affect nearly every system in a child’s body – the heart, lungs, muscles, bones, kidneys, digestive tract, and hormones that control blood sugar and puberty – and can also take a heavy social and emotional toll. Children with obesity may be burdened by stigma and discrimination from bullying, teasing and victimization. Youth with obesity have substantially higher odds of remaining overweight or obese into adulthood increasing their risk of disease and disability later in life. [4]

Ethnic and racial differences in BMI and disease

The risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and other weight-related health risks increases with an increasing body mass index (BMI). But evidence shows that in some ethnic and racial groups, weight gain and higher fat mass even if BMI remains in the normal range can still increase health risks.

The Nurses’ Health Study tracked patterns of weight gain and type 2 diabetes (T2D) development in 78,000 U.S. women to see differences by ethnic group. [5] All women were healthy at the start of the study. After 20 years, researchers found that at the same BMI, Asians had more than twice the risk of developing T2D than Whites; Hispanics and Blacks also had higher risks of diabetes than Whites, but to a lesser degree. Increases in weight over time were more harmful in Asians than in other ethnic groups – for every 11 pounds Asians gained during adulthood, they had an 84% increased risk of T2D; Hispanics, Blacks, and Whites who gained weight also had higher risk, but to a much lesser degree than Asians. Other studies have found that even with a lower BMI than Whites, increasing weight in Asians with a BMI of 25 or higher increased risk of high blood pressure, T2D, and early death from all causes. [6-8]

One reason for this difference could be amount and location of body fat. Even with a lower BMI than other populations, Chinese and South Asians tend to carry higher abdominal fat than Whites, which increases the risk for T2D, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders. [9-11] In contrast, some studies have found that blacks have lower body fat and higher lean muscle mass than whites at the same BMI, and therefore at the same BMI, may be at lower risk of obesity-related diseases. [12,13]

For this reason, the World Health Organization and other organizations have recommended a lower BMI cutoff to classify obesity in Asian people (BMI of 25-27 or greater) as well as a smaller waist circumference to measure visceral fat. [9,14]

Weight gain of greater than 10 pounds in adulthood also increases disease risk (i.e., heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones) even in those whose BMI remains in the normal range, according to research from the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study. [15-19]

With the five leading causes of death – heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke, and unintentional injuries – obesity is a major risk factor for the first four. [20] Obesity is also associated with other health conditions such as sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, gallstones, infertility, respiratory diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis. No less real are the social and emotional effects of obesity which may include discrimination, lower quality of life, and susceptibility to depression.

Economic Impacts

Obesity costs the U.S. health care system almost $173 billion annually. [2] This includes money spent directly on medical care and prescription drugs related to obesity. In the workplace, research has shown that the number of sick days, short-term disability, and workers’ compensation days increase with increasing BMI. [21] Compared with an employee with a BMI of 25, an employee with a BMI of 35 has nearly double the risk of a disability or workers’ compensation claim. Perhaps one of the most surprising consequences of the current obesity epidemic in the U.S. is its impact on recruitment for the armed services, with data showing that 3 in 5 young adults carry too much weight to qualify for military service. [2]

Trends

According to the WHO, worldwide obesity rates are rising with 1 in 8 people, or more than 1 billion people, around the world living with obesity. [14] A Lancet review showed that global adult obesity doubled from 1990 to 2022, and adolescent obesity quadrupled. [22] As low to middle-income countries adopt unhealthy eating patterns and behaviors of industrialized nations such as less physical activity, so do their obesity rates. Specific regions including Polynesia, Micronesia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and north Africa showed the greatest increases in obesity, as well as higher-income countries such as Chile. [22] Increased eating out of home, access to ultra-processed low-nutrient-dense foods, and sedentariness (e.g., sitting at work, driving instead of walking or bicycling) have contributed. Higher cost and limited access to healthy foods and decreased opportunities for play and sports may cause inequalities in obesity and could limit the impact of policies that target unhealthy foods. [22]

The NCD Risk Factor Collaboration visualizes the prevalence of obesity globally as well as changing obesity rates in various countries since 1990. Below are data summaries of obesity rates for both adults and children around the world:

North America

Adults

In 2018, the United States had the highest prevalence of adult obesity among high-income Western countries worldwide. [23]From 1999 through 2018, the age-adjusted prevalence of adults with obesity increased significantly from 31% to 42%. [24]. If trends continue, projections estimate that by 2030 nearly 50% of adults will have obesity, and nearly 1 in 4 adults will have severe obesity (BMI ≥35). [25]

Obesity disproportionately affects U.S. racial/ethnic minority populations. Compared to 42% of non-Hispanic whites, 50% of non-Hispanic Black and 45% of Hispanic adults have obesity. [24] There are considerable differences in obesity among non-Hispanic Black adults by sex, with 57% of non-Hispanic Black women having obesity compared to 41% of men. [24] Trends estimate that severe obesity may become the most common BMI category among non-Hispanic Black and low-income adults by 2030. [25]

Obesity rates in Canada are not as high as they are in the U.S., but Canada has seen dramatic increases over the past three decades. Obesity prevalence among Canadian adults increased from 9% in 1975 to 31% by 2016. [23] Indigenous populations in Canada are also disproportionately affected by the burden of obesity. [26]

Children

The U.S. has among the highest childhood obesity rates in the world, with nearly 1 in 3 children with overweight or obesity. In 2015-2016, nearly 19% of children 2-19 years old had obesity, affecting an estimated 14 million children nationwide. Obesity prevalence was highest among adolescents 12-19 years old (21%) and lowest among preschool-aged children 2-5 years old (14%). [27] Recently, the prevalence of obesity declined among children ages 2-5 years old, held steady for children 6-11 years, and continued to rise among adolescents 12-19 years. [28,29] Current trends suggest that an alarming 57% of children currently between 2 and 19 years old will have obesity at age 35. [30]

Overweight and obesity disproportionally affects racial/ethnic minority populations, and such disparities exist as early as age 2 and persist into adulthood. [27,30] The highest obesity prevalence are among Hispanic (26%) and non-Hispanic Black children (22%), compared with the lowest prevalence among non-Hispanic White (14%) and non-Hispanic Asian (11%) children. [27]

Canada has also seen a rise in childhood obesity since the late 1970s. Obesity rates have more than doubled, and in some age groups, tripled. [31] But childhood obesity rates are lower there than they are in the U.S; in 2013, 10% of children ages 6-11 years old and 17% of children ages 12-17 had obesity. [32] Childhood obesity is significant among Canada’s Aboriginal groups. In a 2006 survey of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, nearly 33% of children ages 6-8 had obesity, and 13% among children ages 9-14. [33]

Latin America and the Caribbean

Adults

Over the past several decades, obesity has become a significant health challenge in Latin America.While undernourishment persists among vulnerable groups, so do overweight and obesity.Each year, obesity among the population grows by 3.6 million individuals, and now exceeds undernourishment as the greatest nutritional threat. [34] Between 1975 and 2014, among the largest increases in BMI in regions worldwide occurred for men in central Latin America, and for women in Andean Latin America and the Caribbean. [35] In 2016, approximately 104 million adults in Latin America had obesity; 15% of men and 16% of women. [23] Countries with the highest prevalence of obesity included Bermuda (women 43%, men 30%) and Puerto Rico (women 42%, men 29%). [23]

Children

While Latin America has shown significant progress in reducing child stunting due to undernourishment, prevalence of overweight and obesity due to malnutrition has grown to be among the highest in the world. [34] As a result, Latin American children have the dual burden of undernutrition coexisting with overweight and obesity. [36] In 2016, 15% of children ages 5-9 years and 10% of adolescents ages 10-19 years had obesity in Latin America and the Caribbean. [34]Among girls ages 5-19 years old, central Latin America demonstrated the highest increase of BMI per decade worldwide over the past 40 years. [37] Inequality further exacerbates overweight and obesity in populations with lower income, and among women, indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and rural families. [34]

Europe

Adults

Since 1975, obesity rates have been rising across Europe, though not as rapidly or as high as they are in the U.S. [35] Countries with the highest prevalence include Malta and the United Kingdom, hovering around 30% for both men and women. Countries with the lowest obesity prevalence include Austria, Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland for women and Moldova and Russia for men (<20% for all). [23] The rise in women’s BMI in central and southwestern Europe has been among the lowest over the past 40 years, one of the few places worldwide that can report such a trend. [23,35]

Children

Over the past several decades, many European countries had among the largest increases in the number of children and adolescents with obesity. [37] More recently, obesity has plateaued in many regions, particularly in eastern, northwestern, and southwestern Europe, but prevalence rates remain high in Mediterranean countries. [37,38] In Greece, Malta, and Cyprus, 16% of boys ages 5-19 have obesity, and 11% of girls in Greece and Malta. [37]

Regional surveys and analyses demonstrate similar childhood obesity trends in Europe. A 2019 systematic review of 130 studies across 28 European countries assessed prevalence trends in overweight and obesity among 2-13-year-old children between 1999-2016. [39] The prevalence of overweight and obesity tended to decrease in the Iberian region and increase in the Mediterranean regions, with no significant changes in Atlantic or Central Europe. Although the overall prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity remains high, trends have stabilized in most European countries, but continues to rise in some Mediterranean countries. [39]

Central, East, West and South Africa

Adults

Undernutrition has historically received more public health attention in Africa than overnutrition. Yet today, obesity and associated chronic diseases have become a growing problem across the continent. Some have called it a “silent epidemic,” striking countries that are still struggling with the health and economic burdens of malnutrition, stunting, infectious disease, and high childhood mortality rates. [40]

Obesity prevalence is higher among African women compared with men, and can vary widely from country to country.For example in 2016, 41% of women in South Africa had obesity (higher than in U.S. women) compared with 16% of men. In stark contrast, the lowest prevalence of obesity was in Ethiopia for women (7.3%) and in Uganda for men (2%); prevalence of undernutrition exceeds that of overnutrition in these African countries among many others. [35] Between 1975 and 2016, Botswana experienced the largest increases in obesity prevalence in these African regions, jumping from 5% to 31%. [35]

Children

Hunger, underweight, and stunting have long been the more pressing child nutrition concerns across Africa.Even today, more children and adolescents are moderately or severely underweight than obese, particularly in central, east, and west Africa. [35] Yet here too, child obesity rates are on the rise, particularly in southern Africa. In 1975, less than 0.5% of girls and boys in South Africa had obesity, but by 2016 the prevalence jumped to 13% for girls and 10% for boys. [37]

North Africa and the Middle East

Adults

Researchers have taken a closer look at obesity trends in the six Persian Gulf states (Oman, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait), since these countries have seen tremendous increases in wealth since the discovery of oil reserves in the 1960s. [41] Even in 1975, obesity prevalence in Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates exceeded 20% among women, raking among the top 20 countries worldwide with the highest prevalence. Among men, Kuwait and Qatar also ranked among the top 20 countries with the highest prevalence in 1975, but only at 12%. [23] In 2016, the prevalence of obesity increased to 47% in Kuwait and 45% in Qatar for women, and to approximately 30% for men in both countries. The most significant increases have been observed in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, from 6% in 1975 to around 30% in 2016. [23]

Children

The Middle East and north Africa have seen sharp increases in obesity since 1975, and this region now has among the highest prevalence of child and adolescent obesity worldwide. [38]Girls in Kuwait and Egypt and boys in Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have the highest obesity prevalence in the region, all hovering around 20% of the child and adolescent population. [37] In 1975, girls in the Middle East and north Africa had higher age-standardized BMI than boys, but by 2016 this gap shrank or reversed as boys gained more weight than girls. [37]

Asia

Adults

Some countries in Asia have the lowest obesity prevalence worldwide, yet here too it has become a serious problem across the region over the past four decades, even while underweight concerns persist.Japan and South Korea have among the lowest obesity prevalence in the world (<9%) for both men and women. However, recent trends in China are of special concern. Although obesity rates are still low overall, there has been a substantial increase from <1% in 1978, to 6% for women and 7% for men in 2016. [23] China is one of the most populous nations on the planet with more than 1.4 billion people, so even small percentage increases in obesity prevalence translate into millions more cases of chronic disease. Furthermore, Asians have a higher risk of weight-related diseases like type 2 diabetes at lower BMI levels, further exacerbating the health issues related to overweight and obesity.

Children

South Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan have among the highest prevalence of moderate and severe underweight worldwide; 20% in girls and 29% in boys.Nevertheless, trends in mean BMI have significantly accelerated in east, south, and southeast Asia between 1975 and 2016. Although obesity prevalence remains relatively low in south Asia, their large populations add up to large numbers of children who have obesity.

Compared to south Asia, the prevalence of child and adolescent obesity is greater in high income Asia Pacific and east/southeast Asia, particularly among boys. [37,38] Obesity prevalence in Malaysia, Taiwan, and China for boys was less than 0.5% in 1975 and jumped to 15% in 2016.Girls in Asia have lower obesity prevalence compared to boys, but has still been increasing over time, most notably in Malaysia where obesity increased from 0.2% to 10% during this time period. [37]

It’s important to note that in Asian adults, the health complications associated with overweight and obesity start at a lower BMI than seen in the U.S. and Europe; therefore these estimates of child obesity prevalence in Asia likely underestimate the true public health burden of obesity in Asia.

Oceania

Adults

The top 13 countries with the highest obesity prevalence worldwide are located within Oceania. Eight of the countries exceed 45% obesity prevalence among men, and 13 countries exceed 50% among women. American Samoa and Nauru have the highest obesity prevalence among women (68%) worldwide; for men it is Nauru at 60%. Australia and New Zealand have lower prevalence in the region but still hover around 30% for both men and women. [23]

Children

Of the top 13 countries with the highest child and adolescent obesity prevalence in 2016, 11 were located in Oceania. There was more than 30% obesity prevalence for both girls and boys in the Cook Islands, Nauru, Palau, and additionally for boys in Niue and American Samoa. [37]

High-income countries in Oceania, Australia and New Zealand have childhood obesity rates in the double digits, but there’s some evidence that rates have hit a plateau. In Australia, 13% of boys and 11% of girls have obesity; in New Zealand the prevalence is higher at 18% and 15% respectively. [37]Overweight and obesity prevalence is even higher in some of New Zealand’s ethnic groups (Maori, 37%; Pacific Islanders, 57%) but have largely unchanged since early 2000. [42]

Risk Factors

Various factors can influence body weight or greater weight gain in specific areas of the body. Some of these cannot be changed, but others may be modified:

  • Non-modifiable risk factors (risk factors you can’t change): age, gender, genes, ethnic origin, and sometimes medications that change how energy is processed in the body leading to weight gain. There’s also strong evidence that having obesity in infancy or childhood increases the chances of remaining obese in adulthood.
  • Risk factors that can be modified: food and beverages consumed, level of physical activity, daily screen time (increased screen time is associated with reduced physical activity time and also increases exposure to marketing of unhealthy foods/beverages), poor sleep hygiene, uncontrolled negative stress. While easier said than done, evidence has shown that addressing these factors as early as possible, even in childhood, may reduce the risk of developing obesity.

Obesity is complex and not just about being born with a certain body size, taking in more calories than the body needs, or burning extra calories through exercise to lose weight. It is often the result of a combination of several non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors. When looking at diet and food, which is often the focus with obesity, there are various factors to consider than just calories in/calories out:

The environments that surround us also play an important role, as they can make a modifiable risk factor a non-modifiable one. Examples are when someone does not have the ability to secure healthy food choices due to living in a food desert or a safe place to perform regular physical activity.

Are genes to blame for weight gain?

There are various risk factors for obesity, but not everyone with these risk factors develops obesity. And not everyone who has obesity develops health problems. In these cases, genes may play a role. Studies of siblings or twins show genetic factors that can determine weight and body size throughout life. [43] Some research suggests differences in genes in people who are of normal weight versus those carrying extra weight that may influence appetite control, metabolic rate, or even ability to change behavior. Gene-nutrient interactions can also promote obesity. For example, genes that increase risk of developing obesity have been reported to be stimulated by saturated fatty acids but not by unsaturated fatty acids. [43] The gut microbiome may also play a role in a person’s risk of developing obesity and chronic health conditions. [44]

However, obesity caused by mutations in a single gene, or monogenic obesity, is rare and is more likely influenced by changes in many different genes, called “common” obesity. Still, the modern obesity epidemic is largely fueled by environmental factors, with excess energy intake and low physical activity pinned as the main culprits. [45] First-degree family members (parents, siblings) who live together typically share similar environments that increase the risk of obesity, and health-related habits of parents are often passed onto their children. Examples include food choices, meal preparation methods (cooking at home vs. reliance on fast food), exercise, screen time, and sleep habits, as well as lack of access to outdoor green space.

These findings suggest that genetic factors make a small contribution to obesity risk, and that our genes are not our destiny. Many people who carry potential “obesity genes” do not become overweight, and healthy lifestyles can counteract these genetic effects.

Is Prevention Possible?

Many factors contribute to rising rates of obesity in children and adults. Among them, the abundance of low-priced, high-calorie ultra processed foods and sugary drinks; incessant marketing driving people to eat more; and an environment that reduces the need for regular physical activity.

Although preventing weight gain over the years of life may not be possible for everyone due to a variety of circ*mstances, there are strategies to reduce the amount of weight change by increasing awareness of modifiable risk factors and working toward healthy lifestyle behaviors.

However, focusing only on the individual (e.g., nutrition and lifestyle education, weight loss medications) has little impact on global obesity prevalence. Prevention requires a broader scope that addresses food systems and an obesogenic environment, including policy changes such as regulating the marketing of ultra-processed low-nutrient-dense foods and taxing items such as sugar-sweetened beverages.

Indeed, what sometimes gets lost in the discussion is that obesity is preventable. We can turn around the obesity epidemic by collaboratively creating an environment where the default option is the healthy choice.

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  45. Qasim A, Turcotte M, De Souza RJ, Samaan MC, Champredon D, Dushoff J, Speakman JR, Meyre D. On the origin of obesity: identifying the biological, environmental and cultural drivers of genetic risk among human populations. Obesity reviews. 2018 Feb;19(2):121-49.

Looking for The Obesity Prevention Source?

The Obesity Prevention Source website was launched in 2010 as an in-depth resource for all who seek to understand the causes of obesity and to reverse the epidemic of obesity in children and adults. Core information from the website has been integrated into The Nutrition Source, including policy and environmental change recommendations crucial for obesity prevention.

Terms of Use

The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products.

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