Obesity, a disease of the modern society

Background: Nowadays, the aging of society, the lifestyle changes at the population level, the modern dietary pattern, and the low level of physical activity have an adverse effect on the waist line and the Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods: Based on scientific literature, we have drafted a review on excess weight and obesity around the world. The mean BMI is an important determinant of health at the population level. We used the WHO database for the years 1975–2016 as starting point and we predicted the average BMI around the world until the year 2100 using Microsoft Excel trendline equation. Results: Our findings are the first that estimate excess weight and obesity trends globally until 2100. This study adds growing evidence that the weight status willsignificantly affect all continents. We identified regions known with a low rate of obesity : East Mediterranean, South-East Asia, Western Pacific, and Africa will encounter severe weight issues. Generally, our data shows that the underdeveloped countries are less likely to report significantly higher rates of obesity by 2100, compared to the developed countries. Conclusions: There is growing evidence that weight gain at the population level is associated with a modern lifestyle and the psychosocial environment.