Global Obesity Rates Doubled Over Last 30 Years, Researchers Say

Global Obesity Rates Doubled Over Last 30 Years, Researchers Say

Friday, August 26, 2011

"Obesity rates worldwide have doubled in the last three decades, even as blood pressure and cholesterol levels have dropped," according to a�series of papers published Friday in the Lancet, the�Associated Press/New York Times reports (8/25). According to the researchers, "1.5 billion adults are overweight and another half-a-billion are obese," and "the rise in obesity is likely to lead to an increase in the number of people afflicted by diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other illnesses, adding to the cost of healthcare," VOA News'�"Breaking News" blog�writes (8/25).

"The international group of researchers�...�said no country had yet got to grips with the problem" and that "[t]ougher action -- including taxing junk food -- is needed by all governments if the obesity crisis is going to be tackled," according to BBC News. "They predicted obesity rates would rise from a quarter in the U.K. to about 40 percent�by 2030" and that in the U.S. "obesity rates would rise from one in three to about one in two," BBC notes (Triggle, 8/25).

The Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report is published by the Kaiser Family Foundation. 2011 Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved. The report summarizes the latest, most relevant information on U.S. global health policy developments and related news from hundreds of sources. Access today's full report or sign up for an email subscription to the Daily Report.

Source: http://feeds.kff.org/~r/kff/kdghpr/~3/UFRNAvUFNUI/GH-082611-Global-Obesity-Rates.aspx

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