New Delhi: The world is facing a growing obesity crisis, with the latest 2025 Atlas from the World Obesity Federation (WOF) projecting a staggering 115 per cent increase in obesity rates between 2010 and 2030. This rapid rise, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is putting immense pressure on already strained healthcare systems. Despite overwhelming evidence linking obesity to life-threatening non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke, most countries remain woefully unprepared to address this mounting health challenge.
Currently, two-thirds of nations have implemented either none or just one of the five key policies essential for obesity prevention, such as taxes on unhealthy foods, food labeling, and marketing restrictions. Additionally, only 7 per cent of countries have health systems adequately equipped to manage obesity-related diseases, highlighting a dangerous gap in preparedness. The consequences of inaction are dire—obesity contributes to 1.6 million premature deaths annually, surpassing fatalities from road traffic accidents.
On World Obesity Day 2025, Rashmi Mabiyan Kaur spoke to Johanna Ralston, CEO of the World Obesity Federation, to explore the alarming findings from the latest 2025 Atlas, the systemic failures that have led to an unchecked rise in obesity, and the concrete steps that policymakers, healthcare professionals, and society at large must take to address this urgent health challenge.
Q. The latest World Obesity Federation’s 2025 Atlas projects a 115 per cent increase in obesity rates between 2010 and 2030. What are the key drivers of this alarming trend?
We know a lot about how to address obesity but have failed to provide the necessary resources or coordinate efforts effectively. This means that not only are obesity rates rising, but deaths due to obesity-driven diseases—such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer—are also remaining high.
The response has been fragmented across food, health, and other sectors. Measures such as labeling and taxation need to be adequately resourced and complemented by integrating obesity management into health systems and improving access to care.
Key drivers include corporate interests that conflict with healthy food and environments, bias among policymakers and even healthcare professionals regarding the need to treat obesity with compassion and care, and deliberate misinformation about costs—when, in reality, the cost of inaction is far higher.
Q. The report highlights that 1.6 million premature deaths from NCDs like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases are directly linked to high BMI. How should policymakers respond to this growing health burden?
Policymakers must recognize that obesity is both a disease in its own right and a driver of other diseases. Our policies need to connect the dots between obesity and other health conditions by incorporating obesity management into primary healthcare. Addressing obesity early can prevent individuals from developing severe cases of diabetes, cancer, CVD, and many other NCDs.
On a broader scale, countries have the WHO Acceleration Plan and obesity recommendations, which should be tailored to each nation’s specific needs and resources. We commend countries like South Africa, Mexico, the UK, and Spain for committing time and resources to leading the way in the Acceleration Plan.
Q. The burden of obesity is rising fastest in low- and middle-income countries, where healthcare systems are least equipped to manage it. What urgent steps should these countries take to avoid an obesity-driven health crisis?
These countries should start by implementing obesity screening and monitoring at the primary care level. Governments must support and fund policies that ensure healthy food is more accessible and affordable than unhealthy options. Additionally, they should restrict marketing that drives demand for unhealthy products and commit to a comprehensive, well-funded national obesity strategy that is integrated into broader healthcare priorities.
It is also critical to overcome the misconception that malnutrition only refers to undernutrition. Malnutrition includes both undernutrition and overnutrition, with obesity now contributing to more deaths and disabilities than undernutrition. In many of the poorest settings, obesity and undernutrition coexist, leading to stunted growth and poor health outcomes.
Q. The report found that two-thirds of countries (126 out of 194) have none or just one of the five key obesity prevention policies. Why are governments failing to act despite clear evidence?
The influence of health-harming industries plays a significant role, as they actively resist efforts to restrict the availability of unhealthy products and wield economic power as major employers in many countries.
Widespread bias and misinformation also contribute to inaction. Even senior health officials in some countries and multilateral institutions still perceive obesity as a matter of personal weakness rather than a medical condition requiring intervention. Our colleagues in South Africa have drawn parallels between the stigma surrounding obesity and the blame associated with HIV.
Additionally, effective obesity policies require time, political will, and financial investment. Although these policies work best when implemented together, their long-term impact takes time to materialize, which can discourage immediate action.
Q. Can you highlight examples of countries that have successfully implemented obesity policies, and what lessons others can learn from them?
Mexico has seen success through a combination of taxation and food labeling policies, while also supporting a health systems approach. Their strategy demonstrates the importance of a “both-and” rather than an “either-or” approach, addressing prevention and treatment simultaneously.
The United Arab Emirates has recognized that its high obesity rates require a multisectoral, whole-of-society approach. Abu Dhabi, for instance, is establishing baseline measurements and targets across various areas, from school-based interventions and prenatal care to restrictions on unhealthy food environments and improved primary care for obesity management. The UAE is also investing in cutting-edge treatment options to ensure comprehensive care.
The UK has also adopted a holistic approach, although austerity measures threaten its long-term success. If sustained, this strategy has the potential to reduce obesity rates and improve overall public health. These examples reinforce the importance of an integrated approach that spans prevention and treatment, across both childhood and adulthood.
Q. Finally, with the world failing to meet targets to halt obesity and reduce NCD deaths, what is at stake if urgent action is not taken now?
If we fail to address obesity, we will continue to miss global targets for reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity-related conditions. We can no longer treat these as separate issues.
Without urgent action, resources will be increasingly diverted toward late-stage medical care rather than preventive measures that support long, healthy, and productive lives. Additionally, the societal impact of obesity—including lower educational attainment, reduced workforce productivity, and even national security concerns—will continue to escalate.
