The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents surged by 1.5 times from 2012 to 2023.
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the global prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. The study, published online in JAMA Pediatrics, analyzed data from 2,033 studies involving 45,890,555 individuals across 154 countries, identifying an overall obesity prevalence of 8.5% (95% CI, 8.2-8.8). The prevalence ranged from 0.4% in Vanuatu to 28.4% in Puerto Rico, with higher rates observed in high-income countries and regions with Human Development Index scores of 0.8 or greater.
The analysis identified various risk factors for obesity, including genetic, dietary, and environmental influences. Children and adolescents with obesity showed higher risks of depression and hypertension.
Key findings indicated that approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents globally are affected by excess weight. These findings suggest a need for integrated behavioral, environmental, and sociocultural interventions to address this issue.
The researchers call for the engagement of primary care professionals, clinicians, health authorities, and the public to address the contributors to childhood obesity.
This study provides evidence of the widespread and increasing prevalence of obesity in young populations worldwide.
The authors report no potential conflicts of interest.