Obesity projections

Projections of global obesity among adults, up to 2035

The number of adults (aged 20+) living with obesity is predicted to increase by more than 50% globally, from 813 million in 2020 to 1.532 billion in 2035, according to projections by the World Obesity Federation.¹ The report predicts that all world regions will see increases in obesity prevalence among both men and women. Prevalence is expected to more than double among men and women in the South East Asian region (from a lower starting level), and among men in the Western Pacific region.

Projections of global obesity among children and adolescents, up to 2035

The global number of children and adolescents (aged 5-19 years) with obesity is predicted to rise to 383 million by 2035, according to projections by the World Obesity Federation. Obesity prevalence among children and adolescents is predicted to rise in all regions of the world, with the steepest rises predicted for girls and boys the Western Pacific region, followed by the Americas and the Eastern Mediterranean.²

Projections of obesity and its impact in Australia up to 2035

The 2023 World Obesity Atlas projects that by 2035, 47% of all Australian adults will be living with obesity, representing a 2.2% annual increase in obesity rates between 2020 and 2035. Among children the projected increase is 2.6% annually. It is estimated that this will increase the economic impact of obesity to be equivalent to 2.5% of GDP by 2035.¹

Content for this page was written by Melanie Nichols, Deakin University and reviewed by Kathryn Backholer and Gary Sacks, Co-Directors at the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition at Deakin University. For more information about the approach to content on the site please see About | Obesity Evidence Hub.