Obesity in the World: Racial disparities in obesity prevalence

Abstract

As a chronic metabolic disease, obesity has evolved into a worldwide epidemic, giving rise to serious public health issues. A recent article published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology entitled "Obesity in the USA: diet and lifestyle key to prevention" described the escalating obesity issue in the United States while analyzing the factors contributing to the rising prevalence of obesity and proposing measures to tackle this problem. After noting the racial disparities in obesity prevalence mentioned by the author in the United States, we analyzed the potential reasons in terms of genetics, metabolism, diet, and socioeconomics. The purpose is to enhance public awareness of the obesity problem, thus better addressing this global challenge.