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Learning English from the News

Upper intermediate level

50% adults overweight or obese by 2050: Global study

Episode 250305 / 05 Mar 2025

(Photo via Getty Images)

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The story

More than half of all adults and a third of children, teenagers and young adults around the world are predicted to be overweight or obese by 2050. The findings come from a new study of global data, covering more than 200 countries, published in The Lancet, a well-known British medical journal.

Researchers warn that if trends continue, global rates of overweight and obese adults would increase significantly, particularly in Asia and Africa, where populations are growing.

Experts say that if governments take urgent action now, there is still time to prevent what they describe as a "profound tragedy".

News headlines

How global obesity epidemic is set to get a whole lot worse
South China Morning Post

'Unparalleled threat' of death: Over 50% of adults worldwide will be overweight by 2050
Wion

Shocking number of Brits who will be obese by 2050 revealed in damning study
The Sun

Key words and phrases

a whole lot
very much

  • Layla seems a whole lot happier in her new house.

unparalleled
there’s nothing like it

  • The new genetic technology is currently unparalleled.

damning
indicates something is very negative

  • The critic gave the film a damning review. They said it was the worst movie of the year.

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