Commentary: Obesity-years--a new metric to measure health effects of obesity

Abstract

Obesity is one of the greatest threats to global health in a generation. Its rapidly rising prevalence and association with chronic disease suggests that it may undo longevity gains in Western countries that were made by reducing smoking rates.¹ In 2009, the prevalence of obesity in US adults was 34%,² which could rise to 50% in 2030 if current rates do not change.³ In places such as India and China, which have large populations undergoing rapid urbanization and ‘Westernization’ of lifestyles, the number of people predicted to become obese is correspondingly large despite a lower overall prevalence.⁴