Obesity, the epidemic that the United States is spreading
Today, 40% of the US population is considered obese. By spreading their food culture in Mexico or Canada, through their trade agreements, the United States has a considerable responsibility in advancing this epidemic around the world. We must act to reverse the trend
At a time when the US President's administration, Donald Trump, persists in unraveling the laws introduced by President Barack Obama, the prospects are likely to darken in the fight against the global epidemic of obesity. Without control, obesity rates could grow rapidly and stop the major improvements seen worldwide in recent years in terms of health and life expectancy. By spreading its food culture to countries like Mexico and Canada, America is making the problem worse.
Paradox of global modern capitalism, even though 800 millions of people around the world do not eat their hunger, it is estimated 700 million the number of obese individuals (including 100 million children). Of course, these two trends are not necessarily directly correlated. A considerable part of the world's famine strikes countries affected by internal conflicts and government dysfunctions.
Exorbitant costs
The obesity epidemic, on the other hand, is much wider, affecting developed economies and emerging markets in their majority. Although there is some link between obesity and poverty, it should be noted that obesity rates in rich countries like the United States, the United Kingdom or Canada are among the highest in the world.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported a staggering figure, estimating at 40% the number of obese Americans (ie, having a body mass index equal to or greater than 30 ), of which 20,6% of adolescents (from 12 to 19 years). According to the CDC, the average weight of an American woman today is higher than the average weight of a US man in 1960 (75 kg).
In 1960, the average weight of an American woman was 63 kg, while the average weight of an American man today reaches 88 kg (over the same period, the average size of Americans has increased only of 2,5 cm). The same trend can be found around the world, with obesity rates skyrocketing in Europe, Latin America and even China.
Although it is difficult to gauge the long-term health consequences, there is considerable evidence that obesity contributes significantly to the increase of type II diabetes, heart attacks and certain types of cancer. This represents exorbitant health costs, estimated at nearly 200 billion dollars each year in the United States alone.
https://www.lesechos.fr/06/12/2017/lesechos.fr/030983305524_l-obesite--cette-epidemie-que-les-etats-unis-propagent.htm