ABSTRACT
Obesity and overweight are central issues in the public health debate in most developed countries. Research on the relationship between the two has provided mixed results across a variety of data sets and empirical methods. Available evidence suggests that overweight and obesity prevalence is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate in both developed and developing countries. In a study looking at race and gender differences in the cognitive effects of childhood obesity, Susan L. Averett and David C. Stifel shows that the increase in the prevalence of overweight children in the United States over the past two decades is likely to result in adverse public health consequences. Accordingly Craig A. Gallet re-examines this issue by using data from countries that lie across the development spectrum. Finally, Michael L. Marlow and Alden F. Shiers discuss the public debate regarding the role of government in lowering obesity, by looking at the relationship between fast food and obesity.
