Dominic Hughes

Bernadette, it's really complex. It's partly to do with big changes in society that we've seen in recent decades. So, for example, people moving from rural areas to the cities... but it's partly also to do with changing diets. Basically, more calories are being consumed, but not necessarily better quality food.

Bernadette, it's really complex. It's partly to do with big changes in society that we've seen in recent decades. So, for example, people moving from rural areas to the cities... but it's partly also to do with changing diets. Basically, more calories are being consumed, but not necessarily better quality food.

So in some countries like China, we've seen a big shift towards dairy products that perhaps weren't so common in the diet 30 years ago, but also experts have pointed to the spread of things like ultra-processed foods around the globe, and they seem to be having a real impact on people's diets as well.

So in some countries like China, we've seen a big shift towards dairy products that perhaps weren't so common in the diet 30 years ago, but also experts have pointed to the spread of things like ultra-processed foods around the globe, and they seem to be having a real impact on people's diets as well.

Yeah, we've known for many years that developed countries have had a big problem with people who are overweight and obese. The USA, many European countries, not least the UK where we're talking today. Among the high income countries, the USA has got like the highest rates of obesity. Around 42% of males and 46% of females were affected by obesity in 2021.

Yeah, we've known for many years that developed countries have had a big problem with people who are overweight and obese. The USA, many European countries, not least the UK where we're talking today. Among the high income countries, the USA has got like the highest rates of obesity. Around 42% of males and 46% of females were affected by obesity in 2021.

But now we're seeing developed countries as well, especially high levels already in areas like Oceania, North Africa and the Middle East. 62% of adult males in Nauru, the Cook Islands and American Samoa, and over 71% of adult women in Tonga and Nauru live with obesity. In terms of raw numbers... China, India and the USA have the countries with the biggest populations.

But now we're seeing developed countries as well, especially high levels already in areas like Oceania, North Africa and the Middle East. 62% of adult males in Nauru, the Cook Islands and American Samoa, and over 71% of adult women in Tonga and Nauru live with obesity. In terms of raw numbers... China, India and the USA have the countries with the biggest populations.

But weight gain varies wildly across the globe. More than half of the world's adults who are overweight or obese in 2021, they live in just eight countries. So as well as China, India and the USA, also Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia and Egypt. And there are really significant numbers of people living with these conditions.

But weight gain varies wildly across the globe. More than half of the world's adults who are overweight or obese in 2021, they live in just eight countries. So as well as China, India and the USA, also Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia and Egypt. And there are really significant numbers of people living with these conditions.

But population growth means that forecasters are predicting the number in sub-Saharan Africa will rise by more than 250% to 522 million people who are living with overweight or obesity. And Nigeria in particular really stands out. The predicted number there is projected to more than triple to 141 million people in 2050.

But population growth means that forecasters are predicting the number in sub-Saharan Africa will rise by more than 250% to 522 million people who are living with overweight or obesity. And Nigeria in particular really stands out. The predicted number there is projected to more than triple to 141 million people in 2050.

And that would make it the country with the fourth largest population of adults who are overweight or obese.

And that would make it the country with the fourth largest population of adults who are overweight or obese.

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When Ed Gardner, conducting here during a recent US tour, gave an interview to the Times newspaper last month, he quipped that the chorus of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples was made up of two rival mafia families, who after one performance had a fight and put each other in hospital. The comments might have been meant lightheartedly, but they caused grave offence in Italy.

When Ed Gardner, conducting here during a recent US tour, gave an interview to the Times newspaper last month, he quipped that the chorus of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples was made up of two rival mafia families, who after one performance had a fight and put each other in hospital. The comments might have been meant lightheartedly, but they caused grave offence in Italy.

When Ed Gardner, conducting here during a recent US tour, gave an interview to the Times newspaper last month, he quipped that the chorus of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples was made up of two rival mafia families, who after one performance had a fight and put each other in hospital. The comments might have been meant lightheartedly, but they caused grave offence in Italy.