Nepal's looming health crisis: Half of adults could be obese by 2050

By Fatma Zehra Solmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Half of Nepal’s adult population could be overweight or obese by 2050, posing a serious health crisis marked by early deaths, diseases, and increased pressure on healthcare systems, a new study warns.

Published on Monday in The Lancet, a prominent global medical journal, the report highlights the growing health threat of obesity and excessive weight worldwide, including in developing countries like Nepal, which continues to face challenges such as hunger and malnutrition.

"No doubt, cases of overweight and obesity have increased alarmingly in our country," said Ashok Bhurtyal, a public health practitioner. "Without immediate intervention, problems could exacerbate, and we will have to at once deal with twin, if contradictory, challenges—hunger and obesity," he added, as reported by the Kathmandu Post.

The World Health Organization defines overweight as having a Body Mass Index of 25 or above, and obesity as 30 or higher.

The report underscores a significant rise in overweight and obesity rates globally and regionally, affecting all nations from 1990 to 2021.

In Nepal, the obesity rate for males grew from 11.7% in 1990 to 29.5% in 2021, while for females, it climbed from 13.9% to 28.1%. Without intervention, these rates are expected to reach 52.2% for males and 47.8% for females by 2050, according to the Kathmandu Post.

Obesity and being underweight are both forms of malnutrition that harm people's health, and Nepal is struggling with both issues.

The 2024 Global Hunger Index ranks Nepal 68th out of 127 countries with a score of 14.7, indicating a moderate hunger level. The score is based on factors such as undernutrition, stunting, wasting, and child mortality.

Additionally, The Lancet report estimates that 2.11 billion adults aged 25 and older are overweight or obese, making up nearly 45.1% of the global adult population.

In 2021, overweight and obesity caused 3.71 million deaths and 129 million disability-adjusted life-years. Over the past 20 years, obesity-related health risks have increased by over 15%. Childhood obesity has increased by 244% in 30 years and is projected to rise another 121% in the next 30 years.

The report warns that by 2050, 3.80 billion adults over 25 will be overweight or obese without urgent intervention. It emphasizes the need for bold, comprehensive actions to address obesity at both individual and population levels. This shift poses serious challenges to public health, economic productivity, and quality of life.

The World Health Organization highlighted that low-income and middle-income countries like Nepal face a "double burden" of undernutrition and rising obesity, particularly in urban areas.

Children in these countries are at risk of poor nutrition and exposure to unhealthy and energy-dense foods, contributing to a rise in childhood obesity.

"More people are becoming aware of the risk of lifestyle diseases, including the risk of overweight and obesity of late," said Bhurtyal. "What we need is a collective effort of all agencies concerned and individuals to combat this crisis driven by changing lifestyles and eating habits."