What are the globe's greatest health concerns? AIDS, cancer, malaria, and bird flu are all contenders. But here's another: obesity. In fact, many epidemiologists believe that the medical problems associated with obesity could be the major health challenge of this century.

In our five-part series we're focusing on what some call a global obesity epidemic. In decades past, obesity was almost exclusively a problem in the developed world. But today, people are actually getting fatter, faster, in places in India and Africa we're more likely to associate with malnourishment. The World's Patrick Cox reports from South Africa, Finland, Singapore, and France.

Listen to the series as a podcast:
Download the mp3 (parts1-3: 26:36)
Download the mp3 (parts 4&5 and expert Q&A: 36:38)