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PRI's "The World": Global Obesity
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The World on 06 November, 2007 07:41:00
 
South Africa
In South Africa, hundreds of thousands of blacks migrated from rural areas to
townships in the early 90s, as Apartheid-era restrictions on movement came to
an end. Rural people still flock to cities. Similar migrations take place
across the developing world. And often, the small amount of extra money gained
by living in the city does not lead to improved health. It often means adding
fat to the family dinner. Doctors are worried not just about the sheer number
of obese people in South Africa and other developing nations. Theyre concerned
about the deadliness of obesity here. It turns out that obesity may be
especially dangerous in adults who were malnourished as children.
Finland
Finland has shown that people's eating habits can be radically improved. The
trick - changing what kind of food the public is exposed to. The government
begand funding research into healthier foods, it phased out subsidies to milk
producers and introduced subsidies for new products.
Singapore
Singapore has achieved remarkable success in its fight against childhood
obesity. The proportion of school-age children classified by the government as
obese has fallen from 14% to 9% in the past 15 years. During that same period,
just about everywhere else in Asia has seen childhood obesity rise. Public
health experts from around the world are studying Singapores approach as a
possible model to be replicated.
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PRI's "The World" is a one-hour, weekday radio news magazine offering a mix of
news, features, interviews, and music from around the globe. "The World" is a
co-production of the BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston.