Widespread obesity has emerged as a significant public health concern only in the past 50 years. Global prevalence continues to trend upward, but obesity rates are growing unequally. Between 2017 and 2022, lower-income countries had the biggest growth rates. Decision-makers face a choice between two possible paths forward, note Senior Partner Drew Ungerman and coauthors. While one focuses on treating obesity without addressing root causes, path two takes a holistic approach to metabolic health and includes prevention and treatment. It also would require changes across industries that include food, environmental, and social systems.
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A line chart shows the share of adults with obesity by region and a bar chart shows the CAGR % for the US, high-income countries, upper-middle-income countries, lower-middle-income countries, and low-income countries. The line chart plots the share of adults with obesity on the y-axis from 0% to 45%, from 1990 to 2020 on the x-axis. The bar chart plots CAGR from 2017–22 for different regions. The CAGR for the US is 1.2%, for high-income countries, 1.4%; for upper-middle-income countries, 3.8%; for lower-middle-income countries, 3.9%; and for low-income countries, 4.8%.
Note: This image description was completed with the assistance of Writer, a gen AI tool.
Source: Global Health Observatory Database; World Bank DataBank, World Bank Group; World Health Organization; McKinsey Health Institute analysis.
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To read the report, see “The path toward a metabolic health revolution,” May 20, 2025.