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Zhen J, Qian Y, Fu J, Su R, An H, Wang W , Zheng Y, Wang X

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Authors not listed · 2017

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Global childhood obesity increased eight-fold since 1975, coinciding with the rise of our electromagnetic technology era.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This global study analyzed height and weight data from 128.9 million people across 200 countries from 1975 to 2016 to track childhood obesity trends. Researchers found that childhood obesity rates increased dramatically worldwide, rising from less than 1% to 5.6% in girls and 7.8% in boys. The study reveals that while obesity rates have plateaued in wealthy countries, they continue accelerating in parts of Asia.

Why This Matters

While this comprehensive obesity study doesn't directly examine EMF exposure, it highlights a critical health trend that intersects with our increasingly electromagnetic world. The dramatic rise in childhood obesity from 1975 to 2016 coincides precisely with the proliferation of electronic devices, screens, and wireless technology in children's lives. The reality is that our modern EMF-saturated environment promotes sedentary behaviors through constant screen engagement, while emerging research suggests EMF exposure itself may disrupt metabolic processes and sleep patterns that regulate weight. What this means for you is that addressing childhood obesity requires considering not just diet and exercise, but also the electromagnetic environment that shapes modern childhood behavior and potentially influences biological weight regulation systems.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2017). Zhen J, Qian Y, Fu J, Su R, An H, Wang W , Zheng Y, Wang X.
Show BibTeX
@article{zhen_j_qian_y_fu_j_su_r_an_h_wang_w_zheng_y_wang_x_ce4615,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Zhen J, Qian Y, Fu J, Su R, An H, Wang W , Zheng Y, Wang X},
  year = {2017},
  doi = {10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32129-3},
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Childhood obesity rates increased dramatically from 0.7% to 5.6% in girls and from 0.9% to 7.8% in boys globally. This represents roughly an eight-fold increase over four decades, affecting millions of children worldwide.
Pacific Island nations showed the highest rates, with over 30% obesity in girls in Nauru, Cook Islands, and Palau. Boys had similar rates in Cook Islands, Nauru, Palau, Niue, and American Samoa.
East and south Asia show accelerating BMI increases for both sexes, while southeast Asia shows acceleration for boys. These regions contrast with plateauing trends in wealthy Western countries.
In 2016, approximately 124 million children were obese (50 million girls, 74 million boys) while 192 million were severely underweight (75 million girls, 117 million boys) globally.
India shows the highest prevalence of moderate and severe underweight at 22.7% among girls and 30.7% among boys, representing a significant global health challenge requiring targeted intervention.