A new international study published in the prestigious journal Nature has revealed that obesity rates are no longer increasing at the same pace worldwide, highlighting significant differences between developed and developing countries. The research, conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, analyzed data from more than 232 million people across 200 countries and territories over a 45-year period.
An additional significance of the study for Montenegro and the regional scientific community is that one of the co-authors of this globally important publication is Prof. Dr. Stevo Popović, member of the Western Balkan Sport Innovation Lab (WBSI Lab) and professor at the University of Montenegro. His participation in this large-scale international collaboration further confirms the growing contribution of researchers from the Western Balkans to global public health and obesity research.
According to the findings, many high-income countries have started to experience a stabilization in obesity growth, particularly among children and adolescents, while numerous low- and middle-income countries are facing a rapid acceleration of obesity prevalence. Researchers emphasize that the global obesity crisis is becoming increasingly unequal and complex, requiring country-specific approaches rather than a single global strategy.
The study highlights that factors such as urbanization, changes in food systems, increased consumption of processed foods, reduced physical activity, and socioeconomic inequalities continue to shape obesity trends worldwide. At the same time, countries with stronger public health systems, better access to health education, and improved nutrition policies appear to have slowed the growth of obesity rates over recent decades.
Researchers also warn that obesity represents one of the leading global public health challenges because it is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory problems, musculoskeletal disorders, and reduced quality of life. The findings underline the importance of long-term investments in health promotion, physical activity, education, and preventive public health policies. The full study, titled “Obesity rise plateaus in developed nations and accelerates in developing nations”, was published in May 2026 in Nature and can be read from this link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10383-0