Epidemiology of obesity

Obesity has been observed throughout human history. Many early depictions of the human form in art and sculpture appear obese. However, it was not until the 20th century that obesity became common—so much so that in 1997 the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognized obesity as a global epidemic. In June 2013 the American Medical Association classified obesity as a disease with much controversy.

In 2013, an estimated 2.1 billion adults were overweight as compared with 857 million in 1980. The rate of obesity also increases with age at least up to 50 or 60 years old.

Once considered a problem only of high-income countries, obesity rates are rising worldwide. These increases have been seen most in urban settings. The only remaining region of the world where obesity is not common is sub-Saharan Africa.

It should also be noted that statistics on the epidemiology of obesity vary between sources.

In its June 2014 report on the problems of obesity affecting people across the globe, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has made the following key points:

Obesity rates in Western Africa are estimated to be 10%. Rates of obesity among women are three times those found in men. In urban West Africa rates of obesity have more than doubled in the last 15 years.

Those in rural Egypt believe that fatness is proper as the "envelope for conception;" therefore, there is enough room to bear and give warmth to the child.

China is currently facing challenges of overnutrition. This is believed to be primarily due to the rapid declines in physical activity and changing dietary habits which have occurred between the 1980s and the 2000s. The decline in physical activity is attributed to increasing technology in the workplace and changing leisure activities.

In 1989 65% of Chinese had jobs that required heavy labor. This decreased to 51% in the year 2000. Combined with this has been a change to a diet higher in meat and oil, and an increase in overall available calories. Available calories per person increased from 2,330 kilocalories (9,700 kJ) per day in 1980 to 2,940 kilocalories (12,300 kJ) per day in 2002. Rates of overweight and obese adults increased 12.9% in 1991 to 27.3% in 2004.

Overall rates of obesity are below 5% in China as a whole but are greater than 20% in some cities.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in India in the 21st century, with morbid obesity affecting 5% of the country's population. Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and NGOs such as the Indian Heart Association have been raising awareness about this issue. Urbanization and modernization has been associated with obesity. In Northern India obesity was most prevalent in urban populations (male = 5.5%, female = 12.6%), followed by the urban slums (male = 1.9%, female = 7.2%). Obesity rates were the lowest in rural populations (male = 1.6%, female = 3.8%).

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