Around 13% of adults are considered obese and 40% overweight. Once a concern only for high-income countries, excess body weight now affects people across different regions and income levels and has become one of the world’s biggest public health concerns.  

Excess body weight is a risk factor for many diseases including more than a dozen types of cancer. 

But too often, individuals are seen as solely responsible for their weight, and people who “obese” or “overweight” – who have a high body mass index – are stigmatised if not discriminated against. They are told to simply “eat less” and “exercise more”, and made to feel responsible for their poor health, when in truth, the reasons are complex and numerous, ranging from genetics to a low socioeconomic background and a lack of opportunity to make informed choices about their health. Many people also live in environments where healthy foods and the ability to exercise are less available, accessible or affordable. 

In this podcast, Cary Adams, CEO of UICC, speaks with Fiona Bull, Head of Physical Activity at the Department of Health Promotion, at the World Health Organization, and Kendra Chow, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the World Cancer Research Fund International, and a registered dietician, about the world’s obesity and nutrition problem.  

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