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Therapeutic Areas
Obesity — a global epidemic
Overweight and obesity result from an imbalance of energy intake (diet) and energy expenditure (physical activity). The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises obesity is a serious, complex chronic disease.
1 in 8
The WHO estimates that 1 in 8 people in the world are living with obesity.1
Since 1990
Rates of adult obesity worldwide have more than doubled since 1990, and adolescent obesity has quadrupled.1
By 2030
The World Obesity Federation projects that by 2030, 50% of adult men and women will be living with a high BMI (body mass index). They project that in the same year, 17% of men and 22% of women will be living with obesity.2
The impact of excess weight and obesity
In addition to biological factors, many aspects of a person's general well-being, environment and lifestyle can also cause weight gain.
The impact and health risks caused by overweight and obesity are increasingly well documented and understood. Losing weight may improve some conditions that are associated with obesity.3
Heart Disease 
Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes 
Infertility 
Some Cancers 
Osteoarthritis 
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease 
Pulmonary disease (Sleep Apnea) 
Neurodegenerative Diseases 
High Blood Pressure The World Obesity Federation estimates that obesity contributes to almost 4 million deaths annually globally, driving 43% of diabetes cases, up to 78% of hypertension, and over 13 types of cancer.4
Prevalence of obesity in Iceland
The World Obesity Federation’s 2025 World Obesity Atlas defines High BMI (overweight) as 25kg/m2 and obesity as a BMI greater than or equal to 30.2
62%
Adults in Iceland with high
BMI in 20252
27%
Adults in Iceland living with
obesity in 20252
192,000
Projected number of adults in Iceland living with a high BMI in 20302
Join the conversation
It’s time to talk about weight and health differently.
Visit the VIVUS-sponsored website Talking About Weight — calculate your body-mass index (BMI), learn about strategies to combat obesity and get a FREE discussion guide to share with your healthcare provider.
REFERENCES:
1. World Health Organization (WHO). (n.d.). Obesity and overweight. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
2. World Obesity Federation. (n.d.). World Obesity Atlas. Retrieved from https://www.worldobesity.org/resources/resource-library/world-obesity-atlas-2025
3. European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO). (n.d.). Obesity and its impacts On Health. Retrieved from https://easo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FINAL-obesity-and-impact-on-health-body.pdf
4. Li B et al. Neglecting obesity in the 2025 NCD agenda will leave one billion people behind. BMJ. 2025 Aug 7;390:r1693.