The economics of thinness

By 2035 more than half the world’s population—4bn people—may be overweight or obese. People everywhere are putting on pounds. As countries grow richer and calories become easier to access, people generally get fatter. America is the fattest country among all the rich countries in the OECD, but plenty of others are struggling. Even France is facing a weight problem. And obesity not only causes health problems, it can lead to economic ones— especially for women. But it’s not all doom and gloom. “Our World in a Dish” column explains how to eat your way to 100. We look at a promising new drug that spurs weight loss. And you can read about Californian Christians who live healthy, happy and long lives by following the word of God. Obesity is a heavy topic, but reading about it does not need to be. By Tamara Gilkes Borr US policy correspondent The Economist