Worldwide obesity marks evolutionary change in human body

WORLDWIDE obesity is so rife that it represents an evolutionary shift in human body shape, an expert said yesterday.

People are undergoing a change similar to that which occurred two centuries ago when Europeans shot up in height by 30 centimetres or more, said Professor Andrew Prentice, but this time they are expanding outwards. And far from being a reflection of more healthy living, as is getting taller, the new trend threatens to lead to chronic illness and reduced lifespan.

The obesity epidemic, which began in the USA, has now spread to Europe, Australasia, Central America and the Middle East, said Professor Prentice, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.