In July this year, a 272-lb. New Yorker, with two heart attacks “under his belt,” sued four fast-food chains that he frequented, charging they had not adequately warned him that his diet might be harmful. Coverage in the August 31 issue of The Economist was typical. While noting that Americans have responsibility for their food choices, it also laid some blame on food manufacturers for America's growing problem with obesity. The article pointed out that in Europe, the segment of the food distribution chain that is closest to consumers, the supermarkets, are the most powerful. In contrast, in the U.S., the power lies with food manufacturers, resulting in misleading food labels, poor dietary claim regulations and undue influence in schools. Together, these factors lead to obesity.
Although several points were not without merit, an important fact was overlooked. With few small exceptions, the citizens of all developed countries increasingly are overweight. The World Health Organization's website calls it “globesity,” an escalating global epidemic of people who are overweight and obese. See www.who.int/nut/#obs.