Health

Global Obesity Study Shows Sharp Rise in Developing Nations as Rates Stabilise in Wealthier Countries

Published

20 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Obesity rates have continued to rise rapidly across many low- and middle-income countries over the past four decades, while growth has slowed or stabilised in much of Western Europe and other wealthy nations, according to a major international study published in Nature.

The research examined data from 232 million people across 200 countries and territories between 1980 and 2024, making it one of the largest studies ever conducted on global obesity trends. Researchers involved in the project said the findings challenge the idea of obesity as a single worldwide epidemic, arguing instead that patterns differ widely depending on country, age group and sex.

The study was carried out by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, which includes nearly 2,000 scientists from around the world. Researchers analysed more than 4,000 population-based studies measuring height and weight among people aged five and older.

Using the World Health Organization definition of obesity, adults with a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or above were classified as obese. For children and teenagers, obesity was measured using age- and sex-adjusted WHO growth standards.

The findings showed that in many high-income countries, particularly in Western Europe, North America and Australasia, childhood obesity rates began slowing during the 1990s and had largely levelled off by the mid-2000s. Some countries have even started to record slight declines.

Denmark was among the first nations where childhood obesity rates stabilised around 1990. By the 2010s, countries including France, Italy and Portugal were seeing modest reductions in childhood obesity, something researchers described as a significant development.

Adult obesity trends followed a similar path roughly a decade later. In much of Western Europe, adult obesity rates in 2024 remained below 25 percent, with France recording levels as low as 11 percent. That contrasts sharply with English-speaking high-income countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, where adult obesity rates ranged between 25 percent and 43 percent.

The situation in developing nations appeared far more alarming. Across sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America and Pacific Island states, obesity rates continued climbing steadily, with some countries experiencing accelerating increases.

Researchers found the fastest growth rates among girls in Tonga and Samoa and among boys in Peru. In Tonga and the Cook Islands, more than 65 percent of adults are now classified as obese.

The study also highlighted rising obesity levels in countries where the condition had once been relatively uncommon, including Ethiopia, Rwanda and Bangladesh.

Researchers said the differing trends were shaped by several factors, including access to ultra-processed foods, physical activity levels, income, healthcare systems and government policies. Measures such as sugar taxes were identified as among the few interventions that had shown measurable effects at a population level.

The report warned that without stronger and more targeted policies, many developing countries could face long-term pressure on healthcare systems as obesity rates continue to climb.

Health

Psychedelic Therapies Gain Attention as Mental Health Crisis Deepens

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2026

Web Reporter

As mental health disorders continue to rise worldwide, researchers are increasingly turning to psychedelic-assisted therapy as a possible new treatment for conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly in patients who do not respond to conventional care.

Scientists and mental health experts say the growing interest reflects frustration with the limited progress in psychiatric medicine over recent decades. According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people globally are living with mental health conditions, placing pressure on healthcare systems to find more effective therapies.

Psychedelic-assisted treatment typically combines controlled doses of psychoactive substances with professional psychological support in carefully monitored settings. Patients are guided through the experience by trained clinicians, often in quiet rooms designed to reduce stress and encourage emotional openness.

Among the substances under study, psilocybin — the active compound found in so-called magic mushrooms — has emerged as one of the most promising. Researchers say it may help patients break free from rigid patterns of thinking commonly linked to severe depression.

Dr Liliana Galindo, assistant professor in psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, said psychedelic research offers hope for patients who have exhausted existing treatment options.

“Unfortunately, in psychiatry, we haven’t really had many new treatments for decades,” she said. “Psychedelics are opening the possibility for treatments aimed at people who do not respond to standard therapies.”

A synthetic form of psilocybin known as COMP360 has already completed phase three clinical trials for treatment-resistant depression. Developers are expected to seek approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, raising the possibility that psilocybin could become the first approved psychedelic-based mental health treatment.

Researchers believe psychedelics work differently from traditional antidepressants. Rather than only easing symptoms, they may temporarily alter brain activity in ways that allow patients to rethink traumatic memories, emotional responses and long-standing negative thought patterns.

Studies from institutions including Imperial College London suggest even a single controlled dose of psilocybin may produce measurable changes in brain function.

Other compounds, including MDMA, are also being studied for their potential to treat PTSD by helping patients revisit traumatic memories in a less fearful state.

Despite the growing scientific interest, significant obstacles remain. Psychedelics are still illegal in many countries and are often associated with recreational drug use. In the United Kingdom, substances such as psilocybin remain classified as Class A drugs, creating strict licensing requirements for researchers.

Experts also warn that psychedelic treatments should never be used without medical supervision. Controlled environments, trained therapists and careful patient screening are considered essential to reduce risks and manage possible side effects.

Researchers say more studies are still needed to determine who benefits most from psychedelic-assisted therapy. However, supporters believe the field could eventually transform mental healthcare if treatments prove both safe and effective.

Health

Cruise Ship Passengers Confined in Bordeaux After Gastroenteritis Outbreak

Published

6 days ago

May 13, 2026

Web Reporter

More than 1,700 passengers and crew members remained confined aboard a cruise ship off the coast of Bordeaux on Wednesday after a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak sickened dozens of people and prompted French health authorities to suspend disembarkation procedures.

The vessel, the Ambition operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, arrived in Bordeaux after a journey that began in the Shetland Islands north of Scotland on May 6. The ship had also stopped in Belfast and Liverpool before reaching southwestern France, where it had been scheduled to continue onward to Spain.

French regional health authorities said around 50 passengers developed symptoms linked to an acute digestive illness, including vomiting and diarrhoea. Those affected were treated by the ship’s medical staff and isolated in their cabins to limit further spread.

The outbreak prompted authorities in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region to send a medical team aboard the vessel to assess the situation and collect samples for laboratory testing at Bordeaux University Hospital.

Officials confirmed that initial tests had ruled out norovirus, one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis outbreaks on cruise ships, though additional investigations were continuing. Health authorities said food poisoning had not yet been excluded as a possible cause.

French officials also moved quickly to distance the incident from recent hantavirus cases linked to another cruise ship, the MV Hondius, which has sparked international concern in recent weeks.

“There is no reason to draw any connection” between the Ambition outbreak and the hantavirus situation, regional health authorities said in a statement.

As a precaution, authorities ordered passengers and crew to remain aboard while interactions with the port were restricted. The decision was made because of the contagious nature commonly associated with gastroenteritis-type illnesses and pending final test results.

According to officials, the highest number of symptomatic cases was recorded on Monday while the ship was docked in Brest.

Health experts note that gastrointestinal illnesses can spread rapidly on cruise ships due to the close living conditions and shared dining facilities. Although outbreaks are relatively uncommon compared with the total number of global cruises, they remain a recurring concern for the industry.

The United States Vessel Sanitation Program has recorded four cruise ship outbreaks so far this year, including cases linked to norovirus and E.coli.

Vikram Niranjan, assistant professor of public health at the University of Limerick, said buffet dining, shared utensils and frequent contact with common surfaces can increase the risk of stomach viruses spreading among passengers.

Authorities have not yet announced when passengers aboard the Ambition will be allowed to leave the vessel.

Health

Virus-Hit Cruise Ship Forced to Dock Again in Canary Islands Amid Bad Weather

Published

7 days ago

May 12, 2026

Web Reporter

A Dutch cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak was forced to dock again in Spain’s Canary Islands on Monday evening after strong winds and rough seas disrupted evacuation operations, Spanish authorities said.

The MV Hondius had been heading toward the Netherlands, where officials planned to complete the repatriation of the remaining 28 passengers on board.

Spanish maritime authorities recommended the temporary docking at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife after weather conditions made it unsafe for the vessel to continue evacuation procedures at sea.

Officials said strong gusts repeatedly pushed the ship off course during manoeuvres lasting more than an hour. Attempts to stabilise the vessel proved unsuccessful as high waves and shifting winds complicated operations.

Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García defended the decision, saying passenger safety remained the priority.

“For meteorological reasons and following the recommendation of the maritime authorities, the MV Hondius has been temporarily moored in the Port of Granadilla,” García said. “The strong wind and waves made it safer for the passengers to disembark and for evacuation teams to work.”

The ship has been at the centre of an international health operation after multiple hantavirus cases were linked to passengers on board. Three passengers have died since the outbreak began during the voyage, while several confirmed and suspected infections have been reported among travellers from different countries.

Spanish health authorities said Monday evening that one of the 14 Spanish nationals evacuated from the ship had tested provisionally positive for hantavirus at Madrid’s Gómez Ulla Hospital.

The patient remains isolated and has not shown symptoms, while the remaining evacuees tested negative and continue to remain in quarantine under medical supervision.

The outbreak has prompted warnings from the World Health Organization, which said additional cases could emerge in the coming weeks because of the virus’s long incubation period.

Olivier Le Polain, head of the WHO epidemiology unit, said authorities needed to remain alert as symptoms may not appear immediately after exposure.

“We may see cases in the next few days or next week, so we need to be vigilant,” he said, explaining that the incubation period can last up to six weeks, although the average is closer to three weeks.

The crisis has triggered close coordination between Spanish authorities and international health agencies. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to meet WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Moncloa Palace on Tuesday morning to review the handling of the outbreak and ongoing repatriation efforts.

The two leaders are expected to hold a joint press conference following their meeting.

Health officials continue to stress that the overall public health risk remains low despite the international concern surrounding the outbreak.