1 billion people worldwide are living with obesity | Why WHO extended its target to 2030

Let’s begin with the number.

1 billion people

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), as of 2022, more than 1 billion people worldwide were living with obesity.

The WHO defines obesity as a chronic and complex disease that can lead to other diseases and states that, because it is linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, addressing obesity can also help reduce those burdens it says.

The Target Was Extended

The World Health Assembly (WHA) global nutrition targets were originally set with a deadline of 2025 They included a target of not allowing childhood overweight to increase.

At the 2025 WHA, this deadline was extended to 2030.

At the same time, a new target has been set-- To keep and maintain the proportion of overweight children under 5 years old below 5%.

The extension is also evidence that achievement remains far off. The WHO states that many countries are still off track to achieve the 2025 targets.

However, some countries have started to halt the trend

It is not all pessimistic news.

The WHO many countries are taking action, and some countries have achieved a leveling off in childhood obesity rates it also reports.

Something that had kept increasing begins to level off. It may look like a modest change, but at a population scale, this is a major achievement.

What WHO recommends

WHO’s Global Strategy on Diet and Physical Activity states the following.

regular moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes on most days reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and breast cancer

30 minutes. And at “moderate intensity.” Brisk walking that makes you slightly out of breath falls into this category.

Why we are writing about this

Why would a company that sells cosmetics write about obesity?

Value Village says it covers “from beauty to health.” If we say that, we need to understand what is happening in the world through primary information that is what we believe.

We do not intend to turn this into a product story. Cosmetics and supplements are not things that solve obesity.

With that said, walking for 30 minutes can be more certain than any product we will leave that here.

References: WHO “Obesity and overweight” fact sheet, WHO “Controlling the global obesity epidemic,” WHO “Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health,” WHO Regional Office for Europe press release (November 4, 2025)
※This article introduces materials published by public institutions and is not intended for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease. If you have concerns about your weight or physical condition, please consult a medical institution.

—The Value Village Editorial Team