A recent study, which estimated trends in the Body Mass Index (BMI) in 200 countries and territories in people aged 5 and over, reported that the global number of adult women with obesity increased from 69 million in 1975 to 390 million in 2016 , while the number of men with obesity increased from 31 million to 281 million in the same period. The study also showed that rising trends in the BMI of children and adolescents appear to be stabilizing in many more developed countries, albeit at high levels.

Obesity is associated with higher mortality and is a risk factor for the development of several comorbid conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, it also has considerable economic consequences. The direct health costs of obesity are high and obese individuals have a 36% increase in annual health care costs and a 77% increase in drug costs, compared to their average weight equivalents. Additionally, obesity has several indirect costs caused by reduced productivity and absenteeism due to premature illness or disability and early mortality.

Our response to this global problem is made through a scientific approach, which is why we have always been following and making the greatest efforts to remain at the forefront of scientific knowledge.

Tallon, J.M. (2019). Doctoral Thesis in Chemical and Biological Sciences. University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD).