Obesity and overweight rates in the United States are set to climb dramatically through 2050, according to a study published on November 14 in The Lancet. The research highlights the urgent need for comprehensive and effective public health interventions to address the growing epidemic.

Dr. Marie Ng and her team from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle analyzed extensive data from 134 sources, examining trends in overweight and obesity from 1990 to 2021. The study also forecasts prevalence rates through 2050 for children, adolescents, and adults in the U.S., painting a troubling picture of the nation’s health trajectory.

The analysis found that in 2021, 15.1 million children aged 5 to 14 years, 21.4 million older adolescents aged 15 to 24 years, and 172 million adults aged 25 years and older were classified as having overweight or obesity. Over the past three decades, obesity rates have risen sharply, particularly among adolescents. Between 1990 and 2021, the prevalence of obesity increased by 158.4 percent among male adolescents and 185.9 percent among female adolescents. For adults, the increases were 123.6 percent for men and 99.9 percent for women.

If current trends persist, the study projects that by 2050, an additional 3.33 million children and young adolescents, 3.41 million older adolescents, and 41.4 million adults will have obesity. This would bring the total number of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity to 43.1 million, while the adult population affected would reach a staggering 213 million.

The findings underscore the inadequacy of existing public health policies in curbing obesity rates. The authors argue for a "multifaceted, whole-system approach" to address the complex social, environmental, and behavioral factors driving the epidemic.

“Existing policies have not shown adequate effectiveness,” the authors wrote, emphasizing the need for innovative strategies that go beyond traditional interventions.

The study also noted that several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry, underscoring the potential role of industry partnerships in combating obesity.

With these projections, the study serves as a wake-up call for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and society at large to prioritize more robust and effective measures to tackle the obesity crisis before it worsens further.