About 300 million people worldwide are obese and in the coming years, according to experts, this number will increase dramatically. Can someone to blame? And whom, exactly?

… The world’s largest fast food chain announced that it intends to introduce a “healthy menu” in its many eateries. Thing of the past huge portions of potatoes, french fries and bubbling drinks to replace the chicken salads, yoghurts and fruits.

However, this is an event that should have been a PR triumph for the leadership of McDonald’s, quickly turned into a completely its reverse side: it became known that this company in salads may contain more fat than a hamburger.
Just the Facts

In the world of obese 300 million

In the U.S., obese two thirds of the adult population

In the UK are obese quarter of the adult population

Obesity costs U.S. $ 75 billion per year

As a result, the American giant again accused of spreading obesity. The Corporation is protected.

“The debate about obesity is very complex and, admittedly, must be based on consideration of not only food, but also individual responsibility and more malopodvidny way of life” – said in a statement, McDonald’s.

The courts seem to agree. Last year a group of teenagers trying to attract nyuyorkskih McDonald’s to responsibility, stating that the company’s products are addictive and, consequently, obesity.

The suit was quickly dismissed. Judge Robert Sweet said then: “Do not defend what the law of their own gluttony.”

Of course, there is a clear trend – at least in the United States – to shift blame from the fast food industry.

“Tales of the cheeseburger”

This view is shared by many American politicians. Last week the U.S. House of Representatives voted for a bill banning citizens to sue fast food companies and claim compensation for their own obesity.

The so-called “cheeseburger bill of” needs further approval in the Senate, but, judging from press reports, in favor of it have already expressed the White House.

Nevertheless, many scientists insist fast food plays an important role in the spread of obesity.

Health hazard

* Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer

* Obesity can reduce life expectancy by 9 years

* Poor diet and sedentary lifestyle was killed in 2000, 400 thousand Americans

Last year, researchers from Princeton University in the U.S. published the results of the study, according to which fast food can have an equally strong effect of addictive as heroin.

They pointed out that rats fed with foods high in sugar and fat, experiencing the real “break” when they are deprived of your favorite dishes.

In October, British scientists warned that the human body simply is not designed for consumption of energy-dense foods that are sold in fast food and supermarkets.

“The system of regulating human appetite have evolved under low-energy diet, normal for rural areas of the developing world where obesity is almost non-existent – said Professor Andrew Prentice of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. – Our bodies were never adapted to the consumption of food with high energy intensity, common in the West, and this affects the spread of obesity. ”

Most experts in this case emphasizes that the causes of obesity are mixed.

“We do not think that’s all my fault any one factor, – says David Porter of the World Health Organization. – This is a consequence of increased availability of much less calories and physical activity.”

Other lifestyle

The fact that high-energy or low-calorie food in the West today is far more accessible than a generation ago, is undeniable.

And lifestyle changes. Cars, computers, television – all this leads to the fact that people are moving less than before.

“People want to point out any one thing – says Dr Tony Steer, an expert in nutrition from the British Medical Research Council. – I do not think it’s constructive or helpful. We must stop looking switchman. It’s time to start thinking about solutions “.

Certainly, in many countries, there is increasing pressure on the politicians who are trying to get to take measures to neutralize “time bombs”. That is, obesity.

In the UK there have been calls to introduce an additional tax on fatty foods and to ban advertising of fast foods, especially targeted at children.

Until now, the Government refrains from such measures, though some of its representatives and insist that obesity is very high in their list of priorities.

The Department of Health is conducting extensive consultation process aimed at obtaining a complete picture of public opinion about what methods can be used to strengthen the nation’s health. It is expected that the results will form the basis of the official report on this subject, which will be released later this year.

These issues appear to dominate the meeting of the World Health Organization, the next annual meeting which will be held in May.

Meanwhile, officials and scholars, no doubt, will continue to encourage companies such as McDonald’s in “recovery” of their eateries.

“The decision guidance on the new McDonald’s product by itself will not solve the problem – says Dr Steer. – But it is the market leader, and if he starts a trend and more will follow, it will help.”