Global Obesity Rates Are Levelling Off — and Spain May Be Turning the Corner

A new analysis of global obesity levels since the 1980s has found that the rate of increase has slowed and stabilised in many countries, and in some cases has even begun to decline. This is the conclusion of a large-scale study published in the journal Nature by a group of researchers from Imperial College London, who analysed data from more than 232 million people across 200 countries for the period 1980 to 2024.

Spain was among the countries where the growth in obesity had stopped across all age groups and both sexes. Among children and adolescents, rates have stabilised at around 10% in girls and 14% in boys — somewhat higher than in most countries showing similar trends. Among adults, obesity stands at 13% in women and 18% in men, and according to the study, it may be beginning to decline.

France shows one of the best results in Europe. Throughout the entire 45-year period, rates remained low — around 4% among children and 11–12% among adults — and a downward trend has now emerged. In Italy and Portugal, growth has also stopped, and rates may be falling. Germany has stabilised at a moderate level, while Finland and Sweden stand as exceptions — childhood obesity there continues to rise.

The researchers identified a characteristic pattern. In wealthy countries, improvements were first recorded among children and adolescents, with similar changes appearing among adults roughly a decade later. The first slowdown was observed in Denmark as early as 1990, followed by Iceland, Switzerland, Belgium, and Germany.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are low- and middle-income countries. In Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Pacific island states, obesity rates continue to rise rapidly. In Brazil, Argentina, and Peru, figures are increasing; in Mexico, obesity among adult women has reached 43%. China and India are also recording accelerating growth.

In the researchers' view, this divergence from the progress seen in high-income countries highlights growing global inequality in nutrition and health. They call for measures to make healthy food accessible to the countries and communities that currently cannot afford it.