Quarter of Russian adults are obese – health minister

Nearly one in four adult Russians grapple with obesity, a pressing public health concern that the government is determined to address, according to Health Minister Mikhail Murashko.

Last year, the national adult obesity rate was 24.6%, with women disproportionately affected, the official said at a forum in Moscow on Tuesday. Reducing this figure is a top priority for the ministry, along with combating alcohol and tobacco abuse – habits that, according to government estimates, deprive vulnerable Russians of an average of seven years of life. The ministry is also committed to promoting reproductive health, Murashko said.

He emphasized that tackling obesity requires a long-term strategy focused on children aged 7 to 11. The minister pointed out that kids face particularly severe health risks from excessive body mass and are more prone to becoming obese, with nearly 33% of Russians in this age group classified as such. He asserted that fostering healthy diets and fitness habits in children is essential for tackling the problem.

Last October, Murashko warned that the number of Russians living with obesity had increased by 10% in five years, reaching 2.4 million. Health officials say the problem is increasingly serious in younger generations, contributing to life-threatening heart conditions and other threats to health.

According to the World Health Organization, obesity is becoming an increasingly widespread global problem, with 890 million adults estimated to be living with it in 2022. Worldwide obesity rates have doubled since 1990.