Will Over 46 Crore Adolescents Be Obese by 2030?

New Delhi, May 21 (NationPress) The health of adolescents is at a critical juncture, with projections indicating that over 464 million young individuals worldwide are anticipated to be obese and at risk of various health and mental issues by 2030, as revealed in a recent report from the Lancet Commission on Wednesday.

This report, the second comprehensive analysis on adolescent health and well-being since 2016, estimates that by 2030, one-third of adolescents in affluent regions of Latin America and the Middle East will be categorized as overweight, highlighting significant deficiencies in addressing adolescent obesity.

The analysis utilizes data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease study, forecasting that 464 million adolescents globally will be classified as overweight or obese by 2030—an increase of 143 million since 2015.

Moreover, over 1 billion of the world’s adolescents (aged 10–24 years) will reside in nations plagued by preventable and treatable health issues such as HIV/AIDS, early pregnancy, unsafe sexual practices, mental health struggles, inadequate nutrition, and injuries that collectively endanger their health and welfare.

Of particular note is that by 2030, 42 million years of healthy life are projected to be lost to mental health disorders or suicide—2 million more than in 2015.

Professor Sarah Baird, co-chair of the Commission from George Washington University, stated, "The health and well-being of adolescents worldwide is at a critical turning point, with mixed progress noted over the past three decades. While there has been a decline in tobacco and alcohol consumption and an increase in secondary and tertiary education enrollment, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has surged by as much as eight-fold in certain countries in Africa and Asia over the last thirty years, alongside a notable escalation in adolescent mental health challenges globally.”

The Commission also identified emerging threats to adolescent health, including climate change and the transition to a more digital lifestyle.

Today's adolescents are the first generation expected to experience their entire lives with the average annual global temperature consistently 0.5 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels.

By 2100, 1.9 billion adolescents will inhabit a world projected to warm to approximately 2.8 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, exposing them to dire health risks such as heat-related illnesses, reduced food and water quality and availability, and a rise in mental health issues linked to climate events.

The forecasts indicate that without decisive political action, policy initiatives, and financial support, more than 1 billion adolescents will continue to live in countries burdened by multiple health challenges in 2030.

Baird emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in the health and well-being of youth to protect our collective future.