Review Article

Global Trends in Adult Obesity Prevalence and Their Comparison with the United States Population

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) are conditions defined by excessive  accumulation of body fat. Over recent decades, the prevalence of obesity has increased markedly worldwide, affecting both developed and developing nations. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults aged 18 years and older were classified as overweight, with over 650 million living with obesity. Obesity is associated with numerous serious comorbidities and represents a growing public health concern, contributing to escalating disease burden, rising healthcare costs, and substantial losses in productivity. This research aims to conduct a comparative analysis of obesity prevalence in the United States of America relative to other developed and developing countries and territories across the six World Health Organization regions worldwide. Additionally, sex-specific obesity prevalence among adults in the United States was examined. Methods: A comparative analysis was conducted using obesity prevalence data obtained from the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Data spanning the period from 2016 to 2022 were analysed to assess adult obesity trends in the United States relative to other developed and developing countries across the six WHO regions. Results: The six WHO global regions encompass a total of 199 countries and territories. Among these, the United States exhibited an adult obesity prevalence higher than that of 181 countries and territories, with only 18 reporting higher rates. At the regional level, the Western Pacific demonstrated the highest overall prevalence of obesity, whereas South-East Asia and Africa recorded the lowest population-level obesity rates.