World Patterns

Concerns of weight and obesity are generally thought to be confined to higher-income nations such as the United States and parts of the European Union. This idea is due to the persistent idea that Western lifestyle choices accompany many of the predisposing behaviors relative to obesity such as overeating and aversion toward regular physical activity. However, a survey of low- and medium-income nations reveals quite a different pattern, one of growing obesity, especially within urban settings.

Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) has coined the term globesity to indicate the pandemic nature of obesity and concomitant public health outcomes. Without consistent international analysis and oversight, public health consequences of obesity are sure to amplify the global burden of disease as well as exacerbate the already-elevated weight-related prevalence of mortality. Such events may lead to higher economic and social costs and could subsequently reduce a nation's ability to properly sustain itself.

International Prevalence

In 2005, it was estimated that 1.6 billion adults 15 years of age and over were overweight with an additional 400 million obese. These figures are projected to increase to 2.3 billion and 700 million, respectively, by the year 2015. In addition, approximately 20 million children younger than 5 years of age were overweight.

According to current estimates, the United States represents a large percentage of the world's obese population, accounting for 23 percent. Approximately 35 percent of the overall global population has a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 with the United [Page 806]States reporting an estimate of 74 percent. Other nations with relatively high percentages overweight and/or obese persons include Mexico (68 percent), United Kingdom (64 percent), and Germany (60 percent).

Other nations, even those considered low and middle income, have estimated rates of obesity similar to estimates reported among high-income nations (members of the international community are classified according to the United Nations as high-, middle-, or low-income nations based upon their gross national income per capita [GNI PC]. High-income nations reported a GNI PC in 2002 of greater than $9,076, followed by middle-income [$736–$9,076] and low-income nations [$735 or less]). For example, about 25 percent of those living in the Middle East are either overweight or obese. Similarly, South Africa has reported high obesity measures. Overweight estimates range from 11 percent in Indonesia to 40 percent in Slovenia, while obesity measures range form 2.4 percent in Indonesia to 36 percent in Saudi Arabia.

Additional data from WHO indicate a global problem with obesity and overweight. Among 194 nations, age-adjusted obesity estimates for 2005 for both males and females revealed a median prevalence of 14 percent for individuals 15 years of age or older.

Without consistent international analysis and oversight, public health consequences of obesity will amplify the global burden of disease.

One of the most problematic elements of the obesity pandemic is that those most at risk for long-term health outcomes specific to obesity are children and adolescents. Youth who are classified as either overweight or obese are much more likely to carry their weight problem into adulthood and to suffer more physical consequences of advanced size. A study by Janssen et al. (2005) outlined the scope of overweight and obese school-aged youth in 34 countries indicating that Malta had the highest prevalence of overweight and obese youth (aged 10–16); 25 percent and 8 percent, respectively, followed by the United States (25 percent and 7 percent, respectively). Lithuania and Latvia were identified as countries with the lowest prevalence of each (5 percent; 0.4 percent and 6 percent; 0.5 percent, respectively).

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