Overweight and obesity are among the leading risk factors of the growing NCD burden globally. Individuals who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, fatty liver disease, certain forms of cancer, and dementia. The burden of obesity on life years is considerable. Projections indicate that by 2050 there will be around 92 million premature deaths from obesity-related diseases in OECD, G20 and European Union (EU) countries (OECD, 2019[1]). Obesity rates correlate with socio‑economic gradients, placing lower-income individuals at higher risk – partly due to the exposure to obesogenic environments that encourage consumption of energy-dense foods, trans-fats and saturated fats, and sedentary lifestyles.
Across 32 OECD countries that collect self-reported body height and weight data, obesity rates have increased over the past two decades. Between 2003 and 2023, the proportion of the population with obesity increased from 13% to 19% on average across OECD countries (Figure 4.20). The countries that experienced the highest growth in obesity rates over this period are Chile, Finland and the United States as well as accession country Brazil (exceeding a 10 p.p. difference). Conversely, the countries with the lowest increases (a 1‑2 p.p. difference) are Czechia, Iceland, Portugal and Spain. Obesity rates increased rapidly between 2013 and 2023 in Australia, Chile, Finland, the Netherlands and Norway, with faster growth than during 2003‑2013.
More than half of people aged 15 and over in OECD countries were overweight or obese in 2023. On average across 32 OECD countries with self-reported height and weight data available, 54% of the population aged 15 and over were overweight or obese, and 19% were obese in 2023 or in the latest available year (Figure 4.21). Men were more likely than women to be overweight or obese in all countries, except in Chile where the gender difference is minimal. The gender gap was particularly large in Czechia, Germany, Iceland, Korea, Luxembourg and Switzerland as well as accession country Bulgaria, averaging around 18‑20 p.p.
Measured height and weight data provide a more accurate and reliable indication of the rates of overweight and obesity across countries despite an incomplete data set. Across the 13 OECD countries with measured data, 60% of people aged 15 and over were overweight or obese, and 26% were obese in 2023 or in the latest available year (Figure 4.22). In 11 OECD countries, over 50% of those aged 15 and over were overweight or obese. In countries including Finland, Mexico and the United States, this proportion reached 70% or more. Conversely, in Japan and Korea, less than 40% of the population was overweight or obese. Across countries, men consistently tended to be more likely to be overweight or obese compared to women, with a few exceptions like Mexico and accession country Peru. The gender gap was particularly wide in Canada, Hungary, Ireland and Korea.
OECD Member countries have made increasing policy efforts to address the growing public health concern associated with overweight and obesity. Recognising that obesity accounts for approximately 8% of total health expenditure and 3.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) across OECD countries, countries have stressed the necessity for urgent intervention (OECD, 2019[1]). Some of the most effective and widely used initiatives consist of mass media and educational campaigns, nutritional labelling, taxes on energy-dense food and sugary soft drinks, and regulatory agreements with the food industry aimed at improving the nutritional value of products. Equally important to note is the rapid advance of novel obesity drugs, such as glucagon-like peptide‑1 receptor agonists (GLP‑1 RAs). Originally developed for diabetes, these drugs have proven effectiveness for weight reduction and potential benefits for obesity-related comorbidities, though their long-term effects are not yet known. An increasing number of OECD countries are considering their inclusion as part of national obesity management strategies (OECD, forthcoming[2]).
