EVOLT shares why the health and fitness industry is perfectly positioned to combat the rising obesity rates.
Since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic, obesity rates have significantly increased worldwide. According to a study that was published in the journal “Obesity Reviews,” which examined data from 78 nations, the global obesity rate rose by 6% from 23.7% in 2019 to 25.1% in 2020.1
Similar trends have been discovered by other investigations. According to a study in the journal “Obesity,” the proportion of adults in the U.S. who are considered obese rose from 39.8% in 2019 to 42.4% in 2020, or a 6.6% increase.2
Another study indicated the proportion of adults in the UK who are considered obese also grew from 26.9% in 2019 to 29.4% in 2020.3
The rise in obesity rates during the pandemic could be due to a number of factors. One contributing cause is the rise in sedentary behavior and decline in physical activity brought on by lockdowns and social seclusion tactics. In addition, the pandemic has increased stress and emotional eating, and the transition toward online grocery shopping and meal delivery has increased the availability of bad food options.
Overall, the data points to a large rise in obesity rates worldwide as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This demonstrates the necessity of public health initiatives from the health and fitness industry to deal with the problem and encourage healthy behaviors both during and after the pandemic.
