News Health & Medicine More than 1 billion people worldwide are now estimated to have obesity The chronic disease affects roughly one-eighth of the global population The global prevalence of obesity has soared over the last 30 years. A new analysis suggests that more than 1 billion people worldwide now live with the chronic disease. miljko/Getty Images Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterestPocketRedditPrint By McKenzie Prillaman February 29, 2024 at 6:30 pm It’s no secret that global obesity rates have been rising over the past few decades. But a new analysis quantifies the upsurge.