Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 14 hrs ago
Excess weight becomes Brazil’s leading health risk, study finds
Obesity is a long-term condition involving excess body fat, and it can seriously harm health.
A study published this year found that high body mass index became Brazil’s leading health risk in 2023, ahead of high blood pressure.
High blood sugar ranked third among the risks studied.
The World Health Organization says obesity affects about 1.1 billion people worldwide.
Among children, the share with obesity rose from 2% in 1990 to 8%, prompting the organization to issue its first treatment guidelines for children and teenagers.
Those guidelines recommend combining changes to diet and behavior with physical activity, rather than relying on weight-loss drugs or surgery.
For adults, weight-loss medicines may be an option with medical supervision, but prevention also involves sleep, mental health, family and living conditions, and access to healthy food.
Excess weight has become Brazil’s leading health risk, surpassing high blood pressure, according to a study published this year.
The study found that high body mass index rose from seventh among health risks in 1990 to first in 2023.
High blood glucose rose from sixth to third over the same period.
The World Health Organization says obesity affects about 1.1 billion people worldwide.
The WHO says obesity prevalence among children has quadrupled since 1990, rising from 2% to 8%.
- Who
- People in Brazil are affected by the rising health risk. The study’s authors are not named in the article.
- What
- Excess weight, measured as elevated body mass index, became Brazil’s leading health risk, overtaking high blood pressure.
- When
- The study compares data from 1990 and 2023 and was published in 2026.
- Where
- Brazil.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Prevenção não significa estabelecer uma rotina rígida ou transformar o peso corporal em uma preocupação constante. O objetivo é criar um ambiente que favoreça escolhas mais saudáveis, com mais movimento, alimentação variada, menos tempo sedentário, sono adequado e atenção à saúde mental
Elevated body mass index ranked seventh and high blood glucose ranked sixth among health risks affecting Brazilians.
Elevated body mass index ranked first and high blood glucose ranked third, surpassing high blood pressure.
A study reporting the risk rankings was published in The Lancet Regional Health – Américas.
- Global obesity
- About 1.1 billion people
- Brazil, 1990
- Elevated body mass index ranked seventh among health risks
- Brazil, 2023
- Elevated body mass index ranked first among health risks
- Child obesity prevalence
- Rose from 2% in 1990 to 8%
- Study journal
- The Lancet Regional Health – Américas
Sources
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