World Heart Report 2025 - Obesity & Cardiovascular Disease

Obesity has risen dramatically worldwide, with 878 million adults affected in 2022 and nearly two in three adults projected to live with overweight or obesity by 2050. 

The growing epidemic places a major economic burden on the global economy, currently costing about 2.2% of global GDP, with particularly severe impacts on low- and middle-income countries. 

High body mass index contributes to 3.7 million deaths annually and is a major driver of cardiovascular disease, accounting for nearly one in ten heart disease deaths globally. 

Once concentrated in high-income countries, obesity now affects nearly every nation and threatens future generations. Addressing this crisis requires urgent, coordinated, and holistic action that considers environmental, biological, socioeconomic, and commercial determinants, alongside public health measures, clinical care, and emerging treatments such as GLP-1 receptor agonists.