Venezuela will have 10.52 million overweight adults for 2030, estimates World Obesity Atlas 2025

54 % of adults in Venezuela currently live with a high body mass index (BMI), a condition that will affect 10.52 million people in the country by 2030, according to projections of the World Obesity Atlas 2025 report, published on Monday.

EFE

The document, prepared by the World Obesity Federation, estimated that in 2010 the total number of men with an BMI greater than 25 kg/m² and above 35 kg/m² reached five million, a figure that is projected will be reduced to 4.9 million by 2030.

In the case of women, he explained, the number of people with an BMI greater than 25 kg/m² and exceeding 35 kg/m² will go from 5.1 million in 2010 to 5.6 million in 2030.

On the other hand, the report warned that, in 2025, 24 % of the Venezuelan adult has obesity, a condition that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is presented when the BMI is equal to or greater than 30 kg/m².

The text – based on data from the Institute of Health Metrics and other international organizations, such as the WHO – indicated that in 2021 13,109 premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases associated with a high BMI, such as type 2 diabetes, strokes, heart disease and some types of cancer were recorded in 2021.

According to the document, Venezuela lacks public public programs to address the BMI high and does not have specific physical inactivity strategies. In addition, between 40 % and 50 % of adults in the country have insufficient levels of physical activity.

On the other hand, he warned, the consumption of sugary drinks in Venezuela is estimated between 1,000 and 2,500 milliliters per person per week. The World Obesity Atlas adds that Venezuela does not apply taxes to sugary drinks, as other countries in the region do.

The country stopped spreading their health bulletins since 2016, as they have warned different NGOs, which cover the informative vacuum with independent reports, none with the state measurement capacity.