[kipperfan]

I also found this interesting, from the 2012 OECD Obesity Update:

"Until 1980, fewer than one in ten people were obese. Since then, rates doubled or tripled and in 19 of 34 OECD countries the majority of the population is now overweight or obese. OECD projections suggest that more than two out of three people will be overweight or obese in some OECD countries by 2020."

"The latest data show a slowdown of the epidemic in several countries, with virtually stable rates in Korea, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary and England over the past ten years, and mild increases in France and Spain. However, larger increases were recorded in Ireland, Canada and United States."

"A comprehensive prevention strategy would avoid, every year, 155 000 deaths from chronic diseases in Japan, 75 000 in Italy, 70 000 in England, 55 000 in Mexico and 40 000 in Canada."

"An obese person incurs 25% higher health expenditures than a person of normal weight in any given year. Obesity is responsible for 1-3% of total health expenditures in most OECD countries (5-10% in the United States). Obese people earn up to 18% less than non-obese people."

http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/1/61/49716427.pdf