About the programme
Obesity is an urgent global health challenge. By 2035, over half of the global population will be living with overweight or obesity, according to World Obesity Federation projections.¹
Too often, however, obesity is viewed as a simple BMI equation. Eat less, exercise more and you will not be overweight. But obesity is actually a complex disease driven by a web of interconnecting factors—from genetics and biology to social, economic and environmental influences. And for individuals living with obesity, weight-related stigma and discrimination is detrimental—not just to their physical and mental wellbeing, but also their ability to do well in a society that places an exceptionally high value on body image.
Tackling obesity requires a comprehensive, multifaceted approach that addresses its root causes across all levels of society. This programme aims to help policymakers, healthcare payers and the general public understand the complexities of obesity; reshape its perception; and discover effective prevention and management strategies by learning from initiatives around the world.
Video series
Each person living with obesity has a story to tell—a perspective that portrays the intricacies of the issues. In this video series, Economist Impact showcases individuals who are rising to the challenges, overcoming stigmas and coming to terms with the emotional journey that is living with obesity.
Our first story features Lorenzo, for whom “food is love”. Here he shares how he is balancing his respect for family traditions with his commitment to live a more well-rounded, healthy life.
About the research
Countries globally are making obesity prevention and management a priority—but there is still a significant gap in understanding the full range of factors that contribute to obesity, the associated risks and which interventions truly work.
Our research, via the Obesity Response Index, seeks to address this by assessing and benchmarking obesity prevention and management policy in 20 countries and all 50 US states. By examining national and state-level policies and approaches, we will highlight areas where policy is strongest and weakest, signposting where countries and states can learn from each other.
Explore our Index framework to get a snapshot of current obesity prevention and management policy. And stay tuned for the launch of our US-level Index in June and the global Index in September, where you can compare how different states and countries are addressing obesity.
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