The World Health Organization’s plan to tackle global obesity

A recent study published in The Lancet has revealed statistics regarding obesity, revealing that more than 1 billion individuals worldwide were struggling with obesity in 2022 

Obesity rates among adults have more than doubled since 1990 and quadrupled among children aged 5 to 19 years.

The struggles of undernutrition and obesity 

The report emphasises a trend where 43% of adults were classified as overweight in 2022. Despite advancements in addressing undernutrition, particularly in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, it remains a pressing public health concern.

Highlighted in the study are the countries most affected by the double burden of underweight and obesity, island nations in the Pacific and the Caribbean, as well as those in the Middle East and North Africa.

The comprehensive analysis defines malnutrition in all forms, confining undernutrition alongside overweight and obesity. Undernutrition continues to claim the lives of half of all children under the age of 5. At the same time, obesity poses a significant risk factor for noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, and certain cancers.

The World Health Organization advocating for change

The World Health Organization (WHO) played a pivotal role in collating and analysing the data, emphasising the urgent need for concerted efforts to combat obesity.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stressed the importance of early life through adulthood preventive measures, including dietary adjustments, physical activity, and appropriate healthcare.

WHO Acceleration Plan

Despite the well-understood causes and evidence-backed interventions, the study highlights the need for more implementation. In response, the WHO Acceleration Plan to halt obesity, adopted by Member States in 2022, aims to catalyse action at the country level through 2030.

Key interventions outlined in the plan include:

• Promoting healthy practices from infancy.
• Regulating the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children.
• Implementing nutrition policies in schools.
• Enacting financial measures to incentivise healthy eating habits.

Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Nutrition and Food Safety Department, emphasised integrating obesity prevention and management services into primary healthcare systems alongside multisectoral action to address undernutrition.

Urgent and coordinated action is crucial to safeguard public health and ensure access to nutritious diets and active lifestyles for all.