“Obesity is an international scourge”
Studies by the World Health Organization indicate that more than 1 billion (over 15%) of world’s 6.5 billion people are overweight. In contrast, about 600 million people (less than 9%) are considered to be undernourished.
I’ve noticed for some time that the “norm” for body fat and waist size has been steadily increasing. It was especially evident when I was living in the southern United States and then traveled to eastern Europe. The difference in average weight was astounding.
The WHO says, “Increased consumption of more energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods with high levels of sugar and saturated fats, combined with reduced physical activity, have led to obesity rates that have risen three-fold or more since 1980 in some areas of North America, the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, Australasia and China.”
Prof. Kate Steinbeck, from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital concludes with a scary supposition: “The children in this generation may be the first in history to die before their parents because of health problems related to weight.”
If you’re interested in eating healthier, I highly recommend the Nutrition Action Healthletter, published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
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