Getting fat on the land

OBESITY worldwide is increasing more quickly in rural areas than in cities, a study reported on Wednesday, challenging a long-held assumption that the global epidemic of excess weight is mainly an urban problem.

Data covering 200 countries and territories compiled by more than 1000 researchers showed an average gain of roughly 5-6kg per person living in the countryside from 1985 to 2017.

City-dwelling women and men, however, put on 38 and 24 per cent less, respectively.