The Time To Act is Now - Putting Obesity Back on the Global Agenda
The Landmark Report
COVID-19 deaths are 10 times higher in countries where population is 50%+ overweight.
The difference was stark:
Vietnam has the lowest death rate in the world and the second-lowest levels of population overweight (0.04 deaths per 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 and 18.3% adults overweight WHO data).
The UK has the third-highest death rate in the world and the fourth-highest obesity rate (184 deaths per 100,000 and 63.7 adults overweight WHO data).
Followed by the United States of America (152.49 deaths per 100,000 and 67.9% living with obesity).
Click on the thumbnail for a copy of the landmark report: COVD-19 and Obesity: The 2021 Atlas
‘Old age is unavoidable, but the conditions that contribute to overweight and obesity can be highly avoidable if governments step up, and we all join forces to reduce the impact of this disease. The failure to address the root causes of obesity over many decades is clearly responsible for hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths. The most important thing as we emerge from this pandemic will be promising families who have lost loved ones and suffered severe economic pain “never again”.’
Johanna Ralston, CEO of the World Obesity Federation
“International action to tackle the root causes of obesity is one of the best ways for countries to build resilience in health systems post-pandemic: we urge all countries to seize this moment."
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Director-General of the World Health Organization
