Global obesity is going to cost as much as smoking.
If obesity has a very important impact on health, it also has a significant impact on the financial level. The sum would reach more than 2 trillion dollarseach year.
This exorbitant figure was unveiled in a study published on 20 November 2014 by the global institute McKinsey(1).
Financial aspect of obesity in the world
The study is mainly based on the financial aspect of obesity in the world. This figure of 2000 billion dollars per year takes into account:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of productivity
- As well as the investments needed to mitigate the impact of obesity
This still corresponds to 2.8% of the world’s gross domestic product.
Global obesity
30% of the world’s population is estimated to be obese or overweight, resulting in 15% of health spending in developed countries. Indeed, people with obesity also suffer from secondary diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease, resulting in a lot of expenses for the health system. The loss of productivity is, meanwhile, explained by the side effects of obesity in daily life such asfatigue, depression, or lack of concentration, as well as absences.
If nothing is done to improve the situation, nearly 50% of the world’s population could be obese or overweight by 2030.
To overcome this problem, the World Health Organization (WHO= has already intervened with populations, particularly in terms of prevention and recommendations. Let’s give as an example the recommendation of daily sugar consumption, increasing it from 10% of the daily calorie ration for an adult, to 5%.
Despite the efforts made, the authors of the study believe that the latter have been completely disorganized, and believe that a systemic response would be necessary. For the Institute, there is no simple solution.
But the authors of the study believe that the disorganization of countries in the prevention and fight of obesity, as well as the disagreement between countries on this problem, would ultimately hinder progress in the field.
This study could therefore serve as a starting point for the development of a new global strategyto combat obesity.
Still, the global cost of obesity at $2 trillion a year isalmost as much as smoking, or the combination of the impact of gun violence, war and terrorism.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.