Chronic diseases on the rise: Obesity reverses public health advances

For more than a decade, developed countries have pushed policies to improve public health: less pollution, less smoking and greater awareness of sedentary lifestyles. However, a growing phenomenon is neutralizing much of that progress. Obesity has become one of the main factors driving the increase in chronic diseases, according to a new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The document warns that, despite decades of efforts, noncommunicable diseases are still on the rise and constitute one of the major health challenges of the 21st century. This group includes cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory conditions, responsible for the majority of deaths globally.

Uneven progress in public health

Since 2010, multiple indicators have shown significant improvements in OECD countries. Environmental policies have contributed to reducing air pollution, while health campaigns have succeeded in reducing tobacco use and, to a lesser extent, sedentary lifestyles.

These advances, however, have not had a uniform impact. The report notes that in 43% of the 51 countries analyzed, a reduction in the incidence of noncommunicable diseases has been achieved. In these cases, the improvement is mainly attributed to the reduction of traditional risk factors such as smoking or poor air quality.

But in the remaining 57%, the trend has been reversed.

Obesity as a determining factor

The main factor explaining this decline is the sustained increase in obesity. Now considered a chronic disease, its impact goes beyond body weight: it significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer.

According to the OECD, the growth of obesity has come to "completely nullify" the gains made by reducing other risk factors in many countries since 2010.

This phenomenon reflects profound changes in lifestyles, marked by hypercaloric diets, consumption of ultra-processed foods and insufficient levels of physical activity, even in contexts where there is greater access to health information.

Economic and social impact

The advance of these diseases is not only a health challenge, but also an economic one. Health systems face increasing pressure due to the prolonged treatment of chronic diseases, while labor productivity is affected by incapacity and absenteeism.

The OECD stresses that investing in prevention, especially policies that address obesity, can generate substantial long-term economic benefits. Recommended measures include regulating ultra-processed foods, encouraging healthy diets, promoting physical activity and redesigning urban environments.

A structural challenge

The report concludes that the fight against noncommunicable diseases requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond the healthcare system. Factors such as the urban environment, education, food policy and social inequalities play a key role.

Obesity, in this context, is not just an individual issue, but a structural problem that reflects the dynamics of contemporary societies.

The challenge, warns the OECD, is not a minor one: maintaining the progress achieved in public health will depend to a large extent on the ability of countries to curb a silent epidemic that continues to grow.