The Rising Rate of Unhealthy Weight: Your Empowerment Starts Now

Facing the Data, Finding Our Power

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the numbers—especially when they’re this big. But here’s what we believe at The Body Habitat: behind every data point is a human story. And behind every challenge is an opportunity to grow, shift, and rewrite the future.

A landmark study published in The Lancet in early 2024 revealed something staggering: more than 1 billion people around the world now live with obesity—including 159 million children and adolescents. That’s nearly double the number recorded in 1990. (The Lancet, 2024)

Let’s make that real for a moment. That’s one out of every eight people on the planet.

But here’s the piece that moved us most: the study didn’t just point to a crisis. It pointed to urgency, collective responsibility, and hope. It reminded us that while the numbers are global, our power is local—and personal.

What Does the New Research Actually Say?

If you didn’t catch the headlines, here are some of the key findings from The Lancet’s 2024 Global Burden of Disease Study, one of the largest-ever efforts to track overweight and obesity across age groups and countries:

• Obesity among children aged 5–19 has quadrupled globally since 1990. That means kids today are more likely than ever before to enter adulthood at an elevated weight, increasing their lifelong risk of diabetes, heart disease, and mental health struggles.
• In the United States, the forecast is especially sobering: 260 million Americans are projected to be overweight or obese by 2050, unless significant preventive action is taken now. That includes nearly half of all children and adolescents. (IHME, 2024)
• Girls and women now show higher rates of obesity globally than boys and men, often due to complex social, economic, and cultural barriers that influence nutrition, physical activity, and care access.

This isn’t just about body weight. It’s about what this data reveals: chronic exposure to unhealthy environments, unmet mental and emotional health needs, and a breakdown in how we support families to thrive.

But here’s the shift: we’re not powerless in this. In fact, we’re the opposite.

So… What Can We Do?

Here’s the truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. But there are powerful, evidence-based starting points that you, as a parent, caregiver, or community member, can embrace today.

Let’s talk about what it actually looks like to step into that empowerment.

1. Redefine Health at Home - One Small Habit at a Time

When we hear global projections, it’s tempting to respond with big promises: a total diet overhaul, daily workouts, giving up sugar forever. But sustainable change rarely starts with an overhaul - it starts with a gentle nudge and a compassionate tone.

Try:

• Replacing one high-sugar drink a day with water or flavored seltzer
• Taking a family walk after dinner
• Inviting your child to help choose and cook one new vegetable a week
• Sitting down at the table for one more meal together this week

None of these are revolutionary on their own. But small habits compound, and more importantly, they tell your child: we care about our bodies, and we’re learning how to take care of them together.

2. Focus on Emotional Health Just as Much as Physical Health

The data from The Lancet points to another trend: obesity in children is closely tied to mental health, stress, and food environments that promote emotional eating.

At The Body Habitat, we teach families to:

• Recognize emotional vs. physical hunger
• Reduce shame around food choices
• Use mindfulness strategies like deep breathing or "pause moments" before meals
• Build routines that foster connection, not control

3. Get Curious About Your Family's Unique Environment

Not every household has access to the same resources. But every household can begin by asking:

• What’s available in our pantry?
• How much movement happens in a day - naturally or intentionally?
• How do we talk about food, bodies, and health?
• What barriers are we facing - and how can we name them without shame?

Our job isn’t to “fix” the environment overnight. It’s to get curious, without judgment, and start asking better questions that lead to sustainable changes.

4. Build Health Literacy with Your Kids

Most kids don’t learn how to read a food label, spot emotional hunger, or understand how food fuels their brain. We can change that.

Use mealtimes and grocery trips as teachable moments:

• Talk about “everyday” foods and “sometimes” foods
• Let kids help portion meals and serve themselves
• Celebrate color and variety, not calories
• Ask how different foods make their bodies feel - energized, sleepy, satisfied?

This kind of literacy helps kids build body trust, which has been shown to reduce disordered eating and emotional distress later in life.

5. Ask for Support—and Offer It, Too

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Pediatric obesity is now recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Board of Obesity Medicine as a chronic disease that deserves long-term, multidisciplinary support - not bootcamp solutions.

At The Body Habitat, we:

• Provide medical evaluations to explore all contributing factors (including genetics, hormones, and medications)
• Build personalized, sustainable nutrition and movement plans
• Offer monthly check-ins and direct access to Dr. Krill for ongoing guidance
• Support emotional regulation and resilience for both kids and parents

Final Thoughts: You Are Not Too Late, and Your Family Is Not Behind

We get it - the numbers can feel heavy. But behind every statistic is a chance to choose something different, even if that something is small.

There’s no perfect time to start building a healthier lifestyle. But there is right now. And there’s no “right way” to move forward - only your way, supported by care that meets you exactly where you are.

If you’re ready to learn more about how to support your child’s physical and emotional health, we’re here. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kaysi Krill today and start your family’s journey toward connection, confidence, and wellness that lasts.