But taxing food is politically controversial and usually incurs strong opposition from the food industry. Click ‘Next story’ to see how self-reported obesity figures compare with measured rates in each country. Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975, with about 13% of adults being obese and about 39% of adults being overweight. Some regions of the world, such as Southeast Asia, have seen alarming increases in obesity rates within the past five years. While scientists don't have all the answers as to the causes of the obesity epidemic, the historical timeline of obesity provides some clues to its origins. Bodyweight results from several factors, such as poor nutritional choices, overeating, genetics, culture, and metabolism. Other countries, other schemes: Hungary introduced a tax on selected manufactured foods high in sugar, salt or caffeine. Between 2018 and 2019, the adult obesity rate increased in Michigan and Pennsylvania, decreased in Florida, and remained stable in the rest of states and D.C. In 2019, an estimated 38.2 million children under the age of 5 years were overweight or obese. Obesity is linked to many health complications and diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and stroke. Obesity has become a serious health problem in the United States (USA): approximately 35% of Americans are obese. A year later, the tax was repealed after complaints that it was damaging small businesses and increasing cross-border shopping. In 2011, Denmark introduced a tax on foods containing more than 2.3 percent saturated fats (meat, cheese, butter, edible oils, margarine, spreads, snacks, etc.). Throughout, the point is made frequently that the U.S. spends far more per capita on healthcare when compared to other countries, but has less in healthcare outcomes to show for it. The United States has the 12th highest obesity rate in the world of 36.2% and is the most … In Sweden, for example, obese people earn some 18 percent less than others. SEATTLEThe highest proportion of overweight and obese people 13% of the global total live in the United States, a country which accounts for only 5% of the worlds population, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis of trend data from 188 countries. Thank you. It is also how we get to work and what we do after. And for the past year, France has been taxing soft drinks. However, due to a shorter life expectancy, overall heath care costs for obese people are not higher than for a non-obese person. Obesity is a major health concern in the United States; however, what is now an epidemic was once a much less common occurrence. Why do we need to halt the epidemic? Fourteen countries in Latin America have a female prevalence greater than 20%. Hover over the bars on the graphic below to see how U.S. obesity rates compare with other OECD countries. Obesity in America. Obesity has been spreading over every continent--except maybe Antarctica; those penguins better not start eating McDonald's. Childhood obesity rates are slowing in the U.S., as well as in England, France and Korea. While in 1980, 857 million people worldwide were overweight or … Despite these encouraging trends, obesity has become one of the biggest threats to public health in developed countries and increasingly so in emerging economies, especially in urban areas. Body mass index, BMI, is a weight-for-height measure commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. After decades of rapid growth, adult obesity is stabilizing in many developed countries. This is a list of countries ranked by the proportion of the population that is obese.The data is derived from The World Factbook authored by the Central Intelligence Agency, which gives the adult prevalence rate for obesity, defined as "the percent of a country's population considered to be obese". Obesity remains at an all-time high in North America with women accounting for the biggest proportion at 41.1% compared to 37.9% for men. How U.S. Voter Turnout Compares To Other Nations Ahead Of The 2020 Election [Infographic] Niall McCarthy Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. In most countries, obesity is strongly linked to gender and socioeconomic standing, with poorly educated women two to three times more likely to be overweight than those with more schooling. Mississippi has the highest adult obesity rate at 40.8%, and Colorado and DC have the lowest at 23.8%. Page last reviewed: October 29, 2020 Content source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion