TAIPEI (TVBS News) — As the world marked the 2025 World Obesity Day on Tuesday (March 4), the World Health Organization reported a significant rise in global adult overweight and obesity rates, climbing from 25% in 1990 to 43% in 2022. In Taiwan, more than half of adults over 18 are now classified as overweight or obese, highlighting a pressing public health challenge.
The Health Promotion Administration's (HPA, 國健署) "National Nutrition and Health Survey" (國民營養健康調查), conducted from 2018 to 2022, revealed that 50.8% of Taiwanese adults meet the criteria for being overweight or obese. The survey identified reduced physical activity and unhealthy diets as key contributors to this growing issue.
HPA researcher Mai Yang-chun (麥揚竣) stressed the importance of both dietary adjustments and increased physical activity in maintaining a healthy weight. He recommended that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly to reduce risks associated with excess weight and cardiovascular diseases.
For those already overweight or obese, he advised increasing activity levels to 250-300 minutes per week while adjusting dietary habits for optimal results. The administration designed Taiwan's version of the "My Plate" plan (我的餐盤) to aid in dietary balance, encouraging the consumption of whole grains, various fruits and vegetables, and quality proteins while avoiding foods high in fat, salt and sugar.
