Study finds global obesity crisis has spread to Asia
09-Jun-17, Asian Development Bank
Overweight and obesity cost Asia and the Pacific 0.78% of their GDP or USD166 billion annually.
%20Telegraph_AP.jpg "Study finds global obesity crisis has spread to Asia (c) Telegraph AP")
Image: Telegraph / AP
Over the past two decades, Asia and the Pacific experienced rapid growth and a rapid increase in overweight and obese people. Latest data indicate that over 40.9% of adults in the region are overweight compared to 34.6% in 1990.
The rapid spread of excess weight implies significant additional costs for health systems. ADB estimates suggest that obesity costs about 12% of total health care expenditures or 0.78% of gross domestic product in the region.