Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Obesity has become one of the leading threats to public health in Latin America and the Caribbean, undermining well-being, productivity and the sustainability of health systems.
According to the World Obesity Atlas 2025, 67.5% of adults in Latin America and 37.6% of children and adolescents ages 5 to 19 are overweight or obese.
In Chile, 42% of adults over 20 are obese --- the highest rate in South America -- followed by Argentina at 39% and Paraguay and Uruguay at 36%.
In terms of body mass index, an indicator of excess weight, Chile leads at 83% of adults whose BMI places them in the overweight or obese category, followed by Argentina, Paraguay and Peru at 73%.
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