HSE experts warned of a surge in obesity after COVID – Kommersant

By 2025, 42% of the planet’s population, or one in five adults, will suffer from obesity. This is stated in a study by the National Research University Higher School of Economics, which leads RBC. The obesity situation will be worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is contributing to the closure of sports venues.

According to the study, by 2025, 18% of men and 21% of women will be obese. In addition, 205 million children aged five to 19 will be overweight. As researchers note, the situation with obesity in Russia is getting worse every year. In 1993, 8.3% of men and 23.2% of women suffered from obesity in Russia, in 2017 – 28.1% of men and 32.1% of women, in 2021 – 30.1% of men and 36.7% women.

According to the study, more than a quarter of the world’s population suffers from physical inactivity, and in developed countries this figure is even higher. Physical activity could save up to 5 million people annually; moderate exercise (only 2.5 hours a week) reduces mortality by 10%.

The World Obesity Federation estimates that the cost of high body mass index worldwide is already $990 billion per year (more than 13% of health care costs).

The diet of modern man mainly consists of highly processed products. They contain excessive amounts of salt or sugar. Every year, 1.7 million people die from excess salt consumption (more than 5 g per day), and 500 thousand people die from industrially produced trans-fatty acids. The main cause of obesity is not only poor eating habits and low physical activity, but also alcohol and smoking abuse. Up to 3 million people a year die from excessive alcohol consumption (5.3% of total mortality).

Anastasia Larina