Obesity has doubled worldwide since 1980

4^th February 2011 - As a planet we are getting fatter. Three studies show levels of obesity have nearly doubled in 28 years.

More than half a billion of the world’s adult population was obese (BMI over 30) in 2008, and women were more likely to be obese than men.

However, wealthy Western countries have shown reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  

The studies are published Online First by The Lancet and they show that every region and country has its own story to tell.

Trends in blood pressure and cholesterol

The percentage of the world's population with uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure) fell modestly between 1980 and 2008. However, because of population growth and ageing, the actual number of people with uncontrolled hypertension rose from 600 million in 1980 to nearly one billion in 2008.

High-income countries achieved large reductions in high blood pressure, with the most impressive progress seen in women in Australasia and men in North America.

Uncontrolled hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure higher than 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure higher than 90 mmHg.

Average levels of total blood cholesterol fell in North America, Australasia and Europe, but increased in East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific region.

A global shift

Professor Majid Ezzati, the senior author of the study from Imperial College London, said in a statement: "Our results show that overweight and obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are no longer Western problems or problems of wealthy nations. Their presence has shifted towards low and middle income countries, making them global problems."

Your BMI is a measure of whether you're a healthy weight for your height.

It can indicate whether you're at raised risk of the serious health problems that are linked to being overweight, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a healthy range.

Comparing BMI country to country

• Pacific island nations have the highest average BMI in the world
• Among high income countries, the US has the single highest average BMI (over 28 ) followed by New Zealand
• Japan has the lowest average BMI (about 22 for women and 24 for men)
• In wealthy countries BMI rose most in the US between 1980 and 2008
• The UK has the sixth highest BMI in Europe for women and ninth highest for men (both around 27)
• Turkish women and Czech men have the highest BMI in Europe (both around 28)
• Swiss women had the lowest BMI in Europe (around 24), while French men had one of the lowest (just under 25)

Being overweight is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. It’s estimated to causes nearly 3 million deaths worldwide every year.