Best practice and research clinical obstetrics and gynaecology volume 92

Abstract

Obesity is rising world-wide and has become the most common risk factor for non-communicable diseases. The increase is disproportionate, being higher in the low- and middle-income countries compared to high-income countries. In 2016, the WHO estimated that about 1.9 billion people world-wide were overweight and 650 million of these were obese. If current trends are not reversed, then it is estimated that by 2030, approximately 1:5 women (most of whom will be in the reproductive age groups) would be obese. The percentage of medical spending on obesity health-related complications varies from 3% to 21% depending on the country. Obesity is associated with severe morbidity and mortality including hypertension, diabetes and 13 cancers amongst which are ovarian, breast and endometrial. Several reasons have been advanced for the rise in obesity rates including genetic, epigenetic, environmental, cultural, political, and socioeconomic. Overall, obesity is now considered one of the most important threats to human health.