Research has shown that it is over-eating rather than a sedentary lifestyle is almost entirely to blame for the rise in obesity in adults and children.

Researchers at the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that the levels of exercise people take in the past 30 years haventdramatically changed that much whereas the amount of calories consumed each day has.

1.6 billion people overweight

The WHO estimates that in 2005 over 1.6 billion people were overweight, of which 400 million people could be categorised as obese. They also predict that by 2050, 90 percent of children will be overweight or obese - costing tax payers an extra £50 billion per year.

American children gettong fatter

The WHO study showed that children in the US have grown on average 9 lbs heavier and adults 17 lb heavier since the 1970s. The study also showed that to get back down to weighted levels experienced in the 1970s children would need to walk at least 2 and half hours extra per day!

Changes in diet

Expecting people to walk for 2 - 2 and half hours extra per day is unreasonable and so the only way to reduce levels of obesity in adults and children is to limit their calorie intake. Suggestions to do this include eating little or no processed foods, reducing the amount of fats and sugar people eat in their diet as well as reducing the level of junk food available on the market.