The global burden of high BMI among adolescents between 1990 and 2021

Abstract Background Adolescent high body mass index (BMI) is a growing global health problem. This study analyzes global, regional, and national prevalence and trends of high BMI among adolescents (aged 10–19 years) from 1990 to 2021, investigates disparities by sex, country, and socio-demographic i...

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Main Authors: Chenliang Ge, Jingwei Xiong, Rui Zhu, Zhenchen Hong, Yan He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Communications Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00838-2
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author Chenliang Ge
Jingwei Xiong
Rui Zhu
Zhenchen Hong
Yan He
author_facet Chenliang Ge
Jingwei Xiong
Rui Zhu
Zhenchen Hong
Yan He
author_sort Chenliang Ge
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Adolescent high body mass index (BMI) is a growing global health problem. This study analyzes global, regional, and national prevalence and trends of high BMI among adolescents (aged 10–19 years) from 1990 to 2021, investigates disparities by sex, country, and socio-demographic index (SDI), and projects prevalence to 2030. Methods This study analyzed Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021 data. Prevalence and trends of high BMI among adolescents were stratified by sex, SDI, and region. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), joinpoint regression, and Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) analysis were used to quantify trends and project prevalence to 2030. Results Global adolescent high BMI prevalence has increased from 8.36% (1990) to 17.64% (2021), with females having a slightly higher prevalence than males. Marked disparities are observed across SDI levels; high SDI countries have the highest prevalence, but middle SDI countries are experiencing the fastest increases. Substantial geographic variations are also evident, with particularly rapid increases in some regions, such as the Pacific Island nations, and slower growth or declines in others, such as parts of East Asia. The BAPC model projects a continued rise in global high BMI prevalence up to 2030, with considerable variation across individual countries. Conclusions The global rise of high BMI among adolescents, coupled with projections of continued increases, presents a pressing public health concern. The observed disparities across SDI levels and geographic regions necessitate tailored interventions to address this growing epidemic effectively.
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spelling doaj-art-bf91b9d4cd9c4a689fa107f3da0aed472025-08-20T03:18:23ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Medicine2730-664X2025-04-015111310.1038/s43856-025-00838-2The global burden of high BMI among adolescents between 1990 and 2021Chenliang Ge0Jingwei Xiong1Rui Zhu2Zhenchen Hong3Yan He4Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityGraduate group of Biostatistics, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Computer Science, Indiana University BloomingtonDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityAbstract Background Adolescent high body mass index (BMI) is a growing global health problem. This study analyzes global, regional, and national prevalence and trends of high BMI among adolescents (aged 10–19 years) from 1990 to 2021, investigates disparities by sex, country, and socio-demographic index (SDI), and projects prevalence to 2030. Methods This study analyzed Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021 data. Prevalence and trends of high BMI among adolescents were stratified by sex, SDI, and region. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), joinpoint regression, and Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) analysis were used to quantify trends and project prevalence to 2030. Results Global adolescent high BMI prevalence has increased from 8.36% (1990) to 17.64% (2021), with females having a slightly higher prevalence than males. Marked disparities are observed across SDI levels; high SDI countries have the highest prevalence, but middle SDI countries are experiencing the fastest increases. Substantial geographic variations are also evident, with particularly rapid increases in some regions, such as the Pacific Island nations, and slower growth or declines in others, such as parts of East Asia. The BAPC model projects a continued rise in global high BMI prevalence up to 2030, with considerable variation across individual countries. Conclusions The global rise of high BMI among adolescents, coupled with projections of continued increases, presents a pressing public health concern. The observed disparities across SDI levels and geographic regions necessitate tailored interventions to address this growing epidemic effectively.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00838-2
spellingShingle Chenliang Ge
Jingwei Xiong
Rui Zhu
Zhenchen Hong
Yan He
The global burden of high BMI among adolescents between 1990 and 2021
Communications Medicine
title The global burden of high BMI among adolescents between 1990 and 2021
title_full The global burden of high BMI among adolescents between 1990 and 2021
title_fullStr The global burden of high BMI among adolescents between 1990 and 2021
title_full_unstemmed The global burden of high BMI among adolescents between 1990 and 2021
title_short The global burden of high BMI among adolescents between 1990 and 2021
title_sort global burden of high bmi among adolescents between 1990 and 2021
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00838-2
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