Obesity in the twenty-first century

At several points in this book the food-related issues around obesity are raised. There are many, and the food industry has responded in many ways. Not all are helpful to people with weight problems.

In post-industrial western societies such as the UK, USA and most of Europe, well over half of all people will experience ‘a weight problem’. Medically defined obesity – body mass index (BMI) 30 kg/m2

or waist 102 cm for men, 88 cm for women – will be a problem for about one in three as they get older (Table 5.1). Many more will become overweight and almost all adults take some measures to avoid excess weight gain.