Overweight and obesity reduce country GDP by 3.3%

The numbers are above average in about twenty of the 52 countries covered by the study – in addition to those of the OECD, all those of the EU and many developing – especially in the United States (36.2%), Saudi Arabia (35.4%) and Turkey (32.1%), but also in Mexico (28.9%), Argentina (28.3%) or Chile (28%).

The situation of children and adolescents is another worrying element for the future. The rate of obesity and anxiety among young people aged 5 to 19 reaches a ceiling of 41.8% in the United States and also exceeds the bar. 30% in Greece, Italy, Argentina, Chile, Mexico or Spain, among others.

The OECD certifies that overweight children deteriorate, that they are absent from classrooms, that the risk of intimidation is tripled and that their chances of obtaining a university degree increase. In adulthood, the chances of finding a job are 8% lower for an overweight person and when they are busy they are less productive.

Mexico is the latest online statistics many of the report, starting with the most disturbing: the reduction in life expectancy due to overweight is 4.2 years. A figure that only applies to Poland (3.9 years less), Russia (3.9), the United States (3.7) and Hungary (3.7), compared to an average of 3.3 years in the OECD. Japan is the most virtuous, with a loss of 0.9 years due to being overweight.

In addition, Mexico is among the 52 countries in the study because of the overweight in its economy, which subtracts 5.3% of GDP, followed closely by Brazil (5%), the United States (4.4%). , Colombia (4.3%) or Chile (3.8%).

In Spain, although below average, this economic impact remains at 2.9%, which is much higher than that of the model countries: Japan (1.6%) and Luxembourg (1.9%).

The OECD estimates that overweight and obesity-related diseases account for 8.4% of the average health budget among its members, with percentages reaching 14% in the United States and 11% in Canada and Germany.

In the so-called "Club of Developed Countries", overweight is at the origin of 70% of treatments for diabetes, 23% for cardiovascular diseases and 9% for cancer.