Obesity is increasing in France
The progression of obesity and overweight continues at a
constant rate of 5% a year. If nothing is done, France will reach the level
of the USA in 2020 which has more than 27% of obese people in its population.
Massive obesity might bring about other serious diseases (even terminal ones).
Obesity has existed since prehistoric times. Until
the last century, its image was depicted as a symbol of well being and wealth
in some cultures or in some social strata.
Nowadays, it has become epidemic and is depicted as a disease, which is inclined
to worsen. In 2003 a slight increase in the average height of the French of
0.2cm in six years: the average height being of 168.3cm. The waist- line has
also gained a little more than 2 cm every three years. Only 58% of the French
population is not overweight (IMC 25 to 29.9), 11.3% are obese of which 0. 6%
are in massive obesity.
A regular progression of obesity of 17% every three
years from 8.2% in 1997 to 9.6% in 2000 and of 11.3% in 2003 is observed. Even
more seriously, the percentage of people who are victims of massive unhealthy
obesity has doubled in six years.
Glossary
