A new global study has painted a grim picture of the rising obesity crisis.

This study warns that nearly 60 percent of all adults and a third of all children will be overweight or obese by 2050 unless urgent action is taken.

Published in The Lancet medical journal on Tuesday, the study draws on data from 204 countries and describes the growing prevalence of obesity as one of the most significant health challenges of the 21st century.

According to the study, the number of overweight or obese individuals worldwide surged from 929 million in 1990 to 2.6 billion in 2021. If the current trend continues, the researchers estimate that by 2050, the figure will reach 3.8 billion adults—accounting for around 60 percent of the global adult population.

Researchers have warned that health systems around the world will come under severe strain, with approximately a quarter of the world's obese population expected to be over the age of 65 by 2050.

"More than half of the world’s overweight or obese adults already reside in just eight countries—China, India, the United States, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, and Egypt," the study noted.

Experts have urged governments to take decisive action to counter the crisis.