Economic impact of overweight and obesity
Total economic cost as % of GDP, 2019
Key
Current and future estimates of the economic impacts of overweight and obesity
The economic impacts of obesity can be estimated as a proportion of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). For 2020 the economic impact ranged from 1% of GDP across African Region countries up to > 3% of GDP across countries in the Region of the Americas. By 2060 this is estimated to rise to > 2% of GDP in the African Region countries, > 4% in the Americas, and > 5% in Middle Eastern Countries.
If current trends continue, using data from 161 countries, it is anticipated that by 2060 the economic impacts from overweight and obesity are projected to rise to > 3% of GDP globally. The biggest increase will be concentrated in lower-resource countries with total economic impacts increasing by 4-fold between 2019 and 2060 in high-income countries, whereas they increase 12-25 times in low and middle-income countries. Reducing projected overweight and obesity prevalence by 5% annually from current trends or keeping it at 2019 levels will translate into savings of US$430 billion or US$2.2 trillion in costs respectively every year between 2020 and 2060 globally.
