(NEJM/CNN) - More than 2 billion people around the world are overweight, and many live in the United States.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine confirmed the most recent data.
Researchers examined data collected between 1980 and 2015 from the Global Burden of Disease study, which tracks all major diseases, conditions and injuries.
The data showed that 2.2 billion adults and children were either overweight or obese - that's one-third of the global population.
The U.S. accounts for more than 33 percent of that number. Nearly 80 million Americans are obese.
More people than ever are being affected by and dying from health problems associated with being overweight, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
The authors of the study blame poor diets and sedentary lifestyles.
They said diets are impacted by the availability of high-calorie foods, which are usually affordable and heavily marketed.
Another potential cause is that more people live and work in urban environments and have fewer opportunities for physical activity.
Researchers said they will work closely with the United Nations' Food and Agriculture organization to help improve public health and control the global consequences of obesity.
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