According to a report by Diário de Notícias, conservative estimates for 2032 indicate, that Portugal may have 2.1 million people with obesity, raising total health expenditures to 32.8 billion euros, which will represent 10.4% of Portuguese GDP. Of this global amount, €2.1 billion will be for the treatment of obesity or associated diseases.

A recent study by Allianz Trade, anticipates the possibility that, in 2032, the world population will have one billion people suffering from obesity. In 2016, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that, among the world's population, about 650 million people were obese.

By 2032, global spending on obesity could amount to €1.2 billion, which is equivalent to more than 8% of total healthcare costs, and will result in a cumulative total of €9 billion within a decade.

"Climate change and urbanization may also increase obesity in the future, as rising temperatures outside discourage physical activity outdoors. In addition, extreme weather conditions can drive up the prices of vegetables and fruit, which will make a healthy, balanced diet out of reach for more people," says Michaela Grimm, Senior Economist at Allianz Trade.

People who are overweight and obese are at a higher risk of contracting diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and even some types of cancer. But, if for an individual obesity means a lower quality of life, for society as a whole it represents an increase in the expense of health systems, but it also has indirect effects that go through a lower productivity of people, due to diseases.