Over the last several decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of overweight and obese individuals both in the United States and abroad. The obesity epidemic has affected all segments of the population, adults and children alike, causing major public health concern. A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, examined the prevalence of obesity in 176 countries and found that obesity rates were higher among adult women across the globe, regardless of educational or socioeconomic status [1]. This indicates that women are disproportionally affected in the obesity epidemic on a global scale and could suggest that women are more likely to suffer poor-health outcomes compared to men.

The authors estimate that in 2015 alone, 4 million people across the globe died from obesity-related causes such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes. Interestingly, they did not report a sex difference in death or disability rates from obesity-related causes. Even-so, their results indicate a need for better education, programing, and research related to the prevention of obesity, with an emphasis on the influence of sex and gender.

To read more from the WHRI on the topic of obesity: 

• Study Shows Strong Link between Obesity and Mortality  
• Gender-Specific Differences in Obesity   

Reference:
1. GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators et al. N Engl J Med. 2017; 377(1):13-27.