Obesity is the main enemy of human health and economic productivity. Being overweight creates physical disabilities for normal work and life routines and is the leading cause of premature death. 

In Albania, according to national estimates that correspond to a population survey conducted in 2018 by INSTAT< almost 21.3% of the adult population are obese (BMI greater than 30 kg per square meter" 

But a recent study with data from the Global Map of Obesity shows that Albania will have a much higher prevalence in 2035 where about 37% of adults will be overweight, an increase of almost 16 percentage points compared to the year 2023. 

This is a high level and is considered alarming by the study, especially for children, where the growth will be higher. 

The study shows that obesity in Albania by 2035 among children will increase by 6.7% and among adults by 2.6%. 

Ukraine, Albania and Bosnia have the highest obesity rates in Europe. 

The global study shows that every country is affected by obesity, but the lowest income countries have shown the highest increases in the last decade. 

No country has reported a decline in obesity prevalence and none is meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) target of "no increase to 2010 levels by 2025". 

The World Health Organization has adopted several new rules by 2022 to prevent, manage and treat obesity throughout life. 

Prevention and treatment of obesity requires financial investment, but meanwhile the costs of non-treatment are even higher. Overweight and obesity will cost the global economy over $4 trillion in income by 2035, nearly 3% of current global GDP. 

Estimates of the continued increase in obesity prevalence are based on published trends from 1975 to 2016. 

The period from 2020 to 2022 has increased the risk of weight gain, as movement outside the home was limited, diet and sedentary behavior worsened, etc. In addition, many national surveys and weight measurement programs were discontinued. The increase in the prevalence of obesity, which appears to have occurred particularly among children, may be difficult to reverse, while the pandemic has further exacerbated it. 

(Source: Monitor)