Obesity isn’t just about weight. It’s driving serious health issues for millions of young adults — and it’s getting worse. A major study looked at global data from 1990 to 2019 and made predictions through 2050. The focus: adults aged 20 to 44.
Here’s what you need to know.
How Bad Is It Now?
- Obesity-related health problems more than doubled between 1990 and 2019.
- In 2019 alone:
- High BMI caused 24.5 million cases of poor health (measured in DALYs).
- Over 320,000 deaths in young adults were linked to obesity.
- Men are being affected faster than women.
Millions of young people are living with — or dying from — obesity-related conditions.
What Could Happen by 2050?
The future looks worse if nothing changes:
- Health issues caused by high BMI will keep rising.
- More young adults will develop heart disease, diabetes, liver problems, and other serious illnesses.
- Middle-income countries are expected to be hit hardest, as diets become more processed and physical activity drops.
- Without strong action, obesity will continue to damage health at a global scale.
Why Is Obesity Rising?
Some key reasons:
- Poor diet: More fast food, sugary drinks, and processed snacks.
- Less activity: Desk jobs, screens, and cars have replaced walking and movement.
- Urban living: Less access to fresh foods and fewer places to exercise.
- Economic shifts: As countries grow, lifestyles change — and often become more sedentary.
Middle-income countries are seeing the fastest increase in health problems linked to high BMI.
What Can Be Done?
While the study didn’t test solutions, here’s what could help:
- Promote healthier eating — whole foods instead of processed ones.
- Build safe public spaces — more parks, sidewalks, and bike lanes.
- Start education early — help young people understand how to manage their weight.
- Regulate unhealthy food — like adding taxes on sugar-sweetened drinks.
What You Should Take Away
- Obesity in young adults has already doubled since 1990.
- The number of people with serious, chronic illness due to high BMI will keep climbing through 2050.
- Middle-income countries are at greatest risk — but no country is immune.
Without action, millions more will suffer.
But if we act now — with smarter food policies, better urban design, and more education — we can change the trend.
Source
“Global Disease Burden Attributable to High Body Mass Index in Young Adults From 1990 to 2019, With Projections to 2050: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019“
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