Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI 2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/images/research_banner_face_lab_290.jpgunderweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesity

Effects of selenomethionine on cell growth and on S-adenosylmethionine metabolism in cultured malignant cells.

The effects of selenomethionine (SeMet) on the growth of 17 cultured cell lines were studied. SeMet in the culture medium of three hepatoma cell lines promoted cell growth at subcytotoxic levels (1-20 microM), but the growth of malignant lymphoid and myeloid cells was not stimulated. L-SeMet was cytotoxic to all 17 cell lines when assayed after culture for 3-10 days. A 50% growth inhibition was observed by 30-160 microM-SeMet in a culture medium containing 100 microM-methionine. SeMet cytotoxicity to normal (fibroblasts) and malignant cells was rather similar, excluding specific antineoplastic cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity was increased by decreasing concentrations of methionine. The DL form of SeMet was less cytotoxic than the L form. L-SeMet was metabolized to a selenium analogue of S-adenosylmethionine approximately as effectively as the natural sulphur analogue methionine in malignant R1.1 lymphoblasts. Concomitantly, S-adenosylmethionine pools were decreased. This occurred early and at cytotoxic SeMet levels. Methionine adenosyltransferase activity was not altered by SeMet treatment. ATP pools were not affected early, and decreases in the synthesis of DNA and protein took place late and were apparently related to cell death. RNA synthesis was slightly stimulated at low cytotoxic SeMet levels by 24 h, but was markedly inhibited after 48 h. The SeMet analogue of S-adenosylmethionine could be effectively utilized in a specific enzymic transmethylation. Neither S-adenosylhomocysteine nor its selenium analogue accumulated in the treated cells. These findings together suggest a direct or indirect involvement of S-adenosylmethionine metabolism in SeMet cytotoxicity, but exclude a gross blockage of transmethylations