A recent study predicts that by 2050, half of Australia's children and adolescents will face obesity or overweight issues. Led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne and published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, the study warns that Australian children and adolescents are experiencing the most rapid shift towards obesity. This concerning trend necessitates immediate attention and proactive measures.
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03-04, 2025The study, released on World Obesity Day, reveals that girls are more prone to obesity than boys. Researchers predict that by 2050, 2.2 million people aged 5 to 24 in Australia are expected to have obesity, with another 1.6 million overweight. Globally, it is projected that the number of obese boys aged 5 to 14 will exceed the number of overweight boys within the next 15 years. The analysis assessed the latest overweight and obesity levels and forecast data from 204 countries and regions, predicting that one in six children and adolescents worldwide will have obesity by 2050.
Lead author of the report, Jessica Kerr, stated that the future of young people will be worrying if a five-year action plan is not immediately developed. She emphasized, "Children and adolescents remain a vulnerable group in the obesity epidemic." Experts point out that early prevention is crucial, as obesity problems rarely resolve themselves after adolescence. Kerr also stated, "If we are to avoid the intergenerational transmission of obesity, and the resulting chronic diseases and enormous economic and social costs borne by future generations, then adolescent girls with obesity should be a focus of attention."
The report authors urge governments to increase investment in strategies to reduce obesity drivers, including food and beverages, activity, lifestyle, and the built environment. Suggested measures include higher taxes on sugary drinks, a ban on junk food advertising targeting children and adolescents, and funding support for healthy meals in primary and secondary schools. Health experts are calling on governments to levy health taxes on junk food to help address the obesity epidemic.
