Developing economies hampered by obesity

NEW YORK CITY: Rising levels of obesity are set to cost the world economy 3.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2060, slowing development in lower-income countries and making it hard for people to lead healthy lives, according to a new study published on Wednesday.

The peer-reviewed study, published in BMJ Global Health, provides the first country-by-country estimate of the economic impacts of obesity, a major driver of other noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart conditions.