A new study has found that around one third of the world's adult population, or approximately 1.45 billion people, are now considered overweight or obese by health professionals.
The study, which was carried out by the Overseas Development Institute, found that the rate of obesity in developing countries is almost double that in developed countries.
“The growing rates of overweight and obesity in developing countries are alarming," said the report's author, ODI Research Fellow Steve Wiggins. "On current trends, globally, we will see a huge increase in the number of people suffering certain types of cancer, diabetes, strokes and heart attacks, putting an enormous burden on public healthcare systems.”
The ODI suggested that governments should take at least some of the blame for the issue, and that measures need to be taken with immediate effect.
The alarming rise is obesity figures in the developing world has been attributed to more wealth and a subsequent shift in diet from a concentration on cereals and vegetables to one containing large quantities of fats and sugar.
The report further states: “The evidence is well-established: obesity, together with excessive consumption of fat and salt, is linked to the rising global incidence of non-communicable diseases including some cancers, diabetes, heart disease and strokes”.
The ODI predicts a “huge" increase in incidents of heart disease, strokes and diabetes unless world governments move to change eating habits.
North America has the highest percentage of overweight adults, at 70 per cent of the population, but Australaisa and Latin America are not far behind with 63 per cent. In Europe, 58 the overweight adult population stands at 58 per cent.
