Obesity: Some Interesting Facts!

When we think of obesity, there are many theories about the causes or how widespread the problem is or indeed if the problem really is a global epidemic.  Well here are a few facts about obesity from the World Health Organisation no less: 

• Obesity is classified as a preventable disease;
• Global obesity has doubled in the last 40 years;
• More people die from over eating and obesity than under eating and starvation;
• Over 1.5 billion adults (over the age of 20) are overweight/obese;
• Over 45 million children under the age of five are overweight!;
• Between 7% and 41% of cancers are attributed to being overweight;
• There are more overweight children in developing countries than in developed countries;
• Obesity and under-nutrition tend to co-exist;
• America spends over 10 million an hour on obesity related healthcare!;

Access the references for access to the full report which was updated in March 2011