Number of Obese Growing on Global Scale

While some countries suffer from hunger, a growing part of the world struggles with the opposite problem of obesity. The problem is no longer confined to rich countries: Nigeria and Uganda struggle simultaneously with hunger and obesity. With a 2000 percent increase in the share of China’s population considered obese, the growth in waistlines outpaces the nation's economic growth. Obese people have a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and other conditions, posing big challenges for health-care systems in developing nations. The causes for obesity are many, but one culprit may be the replacement of local produce in many diets with sugary snack foods, high-calorie soft drinks and cooking oils. As modern supermarkets proliferate around the globe, they offer cleanliness and safety, but also cheap processed, high-calorie foods. In response, countries around the world rely on similar methods – limiting the availability of unhealthy snacks and encouraging exercise – in an effort to slow the spread of obesity. – YaleGlobal