The problem of obesity

Some eyebrow raising quotes from the Financial Times on 28th October:

It is five years since “the ranks of the obese overtook the number of malnourished in the world.”

“The global bill for type 2 diabetes alone … will on some estimates approach an annual $500 billion by 2030.”

“Unlike tobacco, moderate consumption of food and drink is not only harmless but also necessary.”

“60 per cent of the world’s nations have an economic output lower than the annual turnover of the top five food and beverage companies.”

“Producers are themselves removing fats, sugars and salt by the truckload.”

Denmark, which recently “imposed the world’s first fat tax … highlighted something of an anomaly.” It “also produces relatively slim people” … with obesity “lower than the European average.”

“Denmark’s favourite television nutritionist offers an attractively simple alternative – why not just drop value added tax on healthy food … instead ?”