Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults
Authors' conclusion
The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesity.
Study context
- Population
- General population of 200 countries and territories: adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years); underweight BMI <18.5 kg/m², adult obesity BMI ≥30 kg/m²; youth thinness/obesity BMI <2 SD below / >2 SD above WHO growth reference median
- Participants
- 222 million participants3,663 studies
- Comparison
- Women vs Men vs Girls vs Boys
- Outcome
- Individual and combined prevalence of underweight (thinness) and obesity, and their changes
- Follow-up
- 1990 to 2022
Methodological detailsBayesian hierarchical model, 200 countries and territories, 1990–2022
- Bayesian hierarchical model
- 200 countries and territories
- 1990–2022
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Countries with change in combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults (posterior probability ≥0.80)
- Decreased, women
- 11 countries (6%)
- Decreased, men
- 17 (9%)
- Increased, women
- 162 countries (81%)
- Increased, men
- 140 countries (70%)
- Combined thinness and obesity decreased, girls
- five countries (3%)
- Combined thinness and obesity decreased, boys
- 15 countries (8%)
- Combined thinness and obesity increased, girls
- 140 countries (70%)
- Combined thinness and obesity increased, boys
- 137 countries (69%)
Further pooled results
Obesity vs underweight prevalence in adults · 2022
- Obesity higher than underweight, women
- 177 countries (89%)
- Obesity higher than underweight, men
- 145 (73%)
- Underweight higher than obesity, women
- 16 countries (8%)
- Underweight higher than obesity, men
- 39 (20%)
- Posterior probability of at least 0.80
Obesity vs thinness prevalence in school-aged children and adolescents · 2022
- Obesity more prevalent than thinness, girls
- 133 countries (67%)
- Obesity more prevalent than thinness, boys
- 125 countries (63%)
- Thinness more prevalent than obesity, girls
- 35 countries (18%)
- Thinness more prevalent than obesity, boys
- 42 countries (21%)
- Posterior probability of at least 0.80
Highest combined prevalence · 2022
- Adults: highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and Middle East and north Africa
- Children/adolescents: highest in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean (both sexes), and Chile and Qatar (boys); also high in south Asia (India, Pakistan) where thinness remained prevalent despite declining
Drivers of change in double burden
- In almost all countries, increases driven by increasing obesity; decreases by declining underweight or thinness
Original publication
Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults. Lancet. Published 29 February 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →