The World Obesity Federation estimates that 51% of the world's population, or 4,000 million people, will be overweight or obese by 2035 if prevention and treatment of this epidemic are not prioritized.

According to the World Atlas of Obesity report, released by the Gasol Foundation, which is dedicated to preventing childhood obesity, the global economic impact of overweight and obesity will reach 4.32 billion dollars a year in 12 years, representing almost 3% of the world's GDP.

The report, quoted by Lusa and published in the context of World Obesity Day, celebrated on March 4, reveals that by 2035 obesity could reach more than twice the number of children compared to 2020, a faster than expected increase, greater among girls than boys.

In the low-income countries, which are nine out of ten countries in the world where the greatest increase is expected - it is estimated that the prevalence of obesity will grow even faster, located in Asia or Africa.

Given the data, the World Obesity Federation highlights the need to develop national action plans against obesity around the world, "such as the National Strategic Plan for the Reduction of Childhood Obesity, recently approved in Spain", according to the Gasol Foundation study.

According to the Foundation, "an ally of the plan against childhood obesity", it includes 200 measures to be carried out by 2030 with the aim of reducing overweight by 25% and the social obesity gap by 40%.