Obesity "epidemic": any solution?
The number of obese kids and adults is increasing in pretty much all non-poor countries the world over. Right now it is the worst in the U.S., Britain, and Canada, but even "traditionally" thin countries like Japan are experiencing a significant rise in the number of overweight people. What I want to ask is this:
Is it realistic to expect this trend to slow down anytime soon? As "developing" countries get better technology and richer food, their previous levels of physical activity are no longer necessary and their populations too are getting obese (which is better than starving, to be sure), while "first world" populations just keep getting heavier and heavier.
Even considering the trend of obesity, as medical technology advances it drags mean life expectancy up along with it, giving a superficial appearance that the health of the "average" person is improving. As far as government-run "health" initiatives go, I see no reason to think that these would not be resisted, and effectively, by the people they are designed to target. So, is there any reason to think that the increase in obesity will slow down, or even that the trend will reverse itself?
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