Worldwide Obesity Epidemic Is Focus of New Orleans Conference
It was not so long ago that starvation and famine made headlines. Presently, the world also has another challenge to face:
Some 1,800 researchers will gather in New Orleans this weekend to discuss efforts to treat and contain the worldwide obesity epidemic.
More than 300 studies will be presented during the annual conference, organized by the Obesity Society, a US scientific association created 25 years ago to study the phenomenon.
Between 64 percent to 66 percent of adults in the United States are overweight, of whom 60 million are obese with the epidemic on the rise.
More than a billion adults worldwide are overweight, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and there are at least 300 million obese people on the planet.
In Europe, Britain leads with a 23 percent obesity rate, followed by Germany at 12 percent and Italy at eight percent, according to a study published at the end of 2006 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
In France, 5.9 million people are obese, of which 2.3 million are nine years old.
In China, the obesity rate can reach 20 percent in some cities, according to the WHO.
Over the four-day conference, scientists will review genetic research and how modifying genes can affect weight, the retention of body fat and appetite.
A major element of the conference will be devoted to sociological and behavioral studies as lifestyle, diet and a lack of exercise are the primary causes of the epidemic. Pediatric obesity is also a top priority, with 20 percent of American children deemed obese — a figure that has tripled in 40 years.