Obesity Report

A new federal government report that used actual body measurements says one in three Americans is obese. A 2000 survey that relied on people's own assessments put the figure at one in five.

    On every continent, even in regions of malnutrition, the number of people who are overweight or obese is rising.

    The major culprit worldwide is a combination of high-calorie diets and lifestyle changes, the same as in the U.S.

    In Australia and Great Britain, obesity rates have tripled to 21 percent since 1980, says the department of international health at Emory University in Atlanta.

    In Mexico, the percentage of people ages 18 to 49 who are overweight or obese has risen to 60 percent. As in the U.S., obesity in children is soaring.

    In Africa, both men and women believe obesity is good. It's associated with fertility, beauty, and prosperity. It also indicates that a person doesn't have HIV.

    Some countries have nationwide campaigns to curb obesity, such as those to reduce smoking.