The global shift in nutritional health, as outlined in a new report from The Lancet, signals an urgent need for comprehensive strategies that address obesity as a worldwide issue. In short:Global obesity has dramatically increased, with 1 in 8 people now considered obese, a significant rise from past decades. The increase is more pronounced in low-to-middle income countries, overtaking the rates in wealthier nations. Despite a decrease in undernutrition globally, obesity's rise presents a new challenge, with some countries experiencing a shift from underweight to overweight populations. — Francesco Branca, director of the WHO's Department of Nutrition and Food SafetyWhy this matters:The shift toward higher obesity rates, especially in low-to-middle income countries, underscores a global health crisis that challenges traditional notions of malnutrition and calls for urgent public health interventions.

Source: Washington Post March 01, 2024 14:45 UTC