Share of adults who are overweight or obese

Obesity rates have increased across the world over the last 50 years, but at varying speeds and from different starting positions.

This chart shows the change in the share of adults who are defined as “overweight” or “obese” across a range of countries. It is based on the latest data from the World Health Organization (which only goes up to 2016). Rates have increased worldwide — from Australia and the United States to India and Nigeria — but tend to be higher in richer countries where food supplies are more plentiful and affordable for the population. This is measured based on body mass index (BMI), which takes account of someone’s height and weight. It’s a crude measure, but it gives us quick insights into how people’s metabolic health is changing.