Huge increase in obesity

Report

Globally, one in three adults is now considered overweight or obese. In 1980 it was one in five. 

The Future Diets report analysed existing data and found thesteepest rise has been in developing nations like Mexico and Egypt, where people are spending their increasing disposable incomes on fatty, sugary foods. Numbers almost quadrupled from 250 million to 904 million. 

The report also said that western countries which have been dealing with the obesity problem for longer have so far failed to tackle it effectively.

It highlighted a more successful mass campaign in South Korea to train women how to prepare traditional low-fat meals. 

The report suggests following the example of some American states in taxing things like fizzy drinks and sugary sweets. It also warns if current global trends continue, there will be a huge increase in heart attacks, strokes and diabetes.

Summary

There are new calls for governments around the world to create laws which prevent people eating too much unhealthy food. Researchers at Britain's Overseas Development Institute, say the number of overweight and obese adults in developing countries went up almost four times between 1980 and 2008.

Vocabulary

steepest

(here) biggest

disposable incomes

money left after spending on essential things like food and accommodation

quadrupled

became four times larger

taxing

(here) legally making something more expensive so it is less affordable

fizzy drinks

drinks with high amounts of sugar and gas added to make them bubbly

trends

patterns

strokes

medical condition in which brain cells suddenly die due to lack of blood supply

Conversation Questions

1)	What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘obesity’?
2)	What do you know about obesity?
3)	How much of a problem is obesity in your country?
4)	Which people in your country are obese?
5)	Why is obesity bad for your health?
6)	Why is obesity increasing?
7)	What should governments do to combat obesity?
8)	Do you think obese people should pay higher medical charges?
9)	Why don’t parents do enough to stop their children from becoming obese?
10)	Is obesity immoral when so many people in the world are starving?