Treating obesity-related illness will cost $1.2tn a year from 2025, experts warn

Unless the obesity epidemic is checked, a third of the global population will be obese by 2025 – stretching health services to breaking point, estimates show

The cost of treating ill health caused by obesity around the world will top $1.2tn every year from 2025 unless more is done to check the rapidly worsening epidemic, according to new expert estimates.

Obesity and smoking are the two main drivers behind the soaring numbers of cancers, heart attacks, strokes and diabetes worldwide, grouped together officially as non-communicable diseases. They are the biggest killers of the modern world.

Related: Supersize us: upselling is fuelling the obesity epidemic, warns report

Related: UK retailers say government must be tougher on obesity

Continue reading... October 10, 2017 at 04:31AM