What are the trends in obesity – past and future?
...in many of the current OECD countries, as income, education and living conditions gradually improved over time. Surveys began to record a sharp acceleration in the rate of increase in body mass index (BMI) in the 1980s, which in many countries grew two to three times more rapidly than in the previous century. While gains in BMI had been largely beneficial to the health and longevity of our ancestors, an alarming number of people have now crossed the line beyond which
further gains become more and more detrimental. Before 1980, obesity rates were generally well below 10%. Since then, rates have doubled or tripled in many countries, and in almost half of OECD countries 50% or more of the population is overweight.
Rates of overweight and obesity vary considerably across OECD countries, but have been increasing consistently over the past three decades everywhere. If recent trends in OECD countries continue over the next ten years, projections suggest that pre-obesity rates (a BMI above the normal limit of 25 but below the obesity level of 30) for the 15-74 age group will stabilise progressively, and may even shrink slightly in many countries, while obesity rates continue to rise.
Read full report at OECD
Also see:
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The Economic Impact of Obesity in the United States
CBO- Obesity will decimate future health costs and care
White House Fingers PlayStation As Obesity Culprit
Government policy makes you fat
How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010
1/3 U.S. Youth Too Fat, Sickly...and Rest Too Dumb or Used Too Many Drugs
