Chinese people with a body mass index (BMI) of 24-25.9 had the lowest risk of death, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Obesity has increased significantly across the globe and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese by 2015. Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other chronic diseases…
Among numerous downsides of rapid economic development (increased polution, inflation) are the ills characteristic of affluent Western economies and that includes a high and growing prevalence of obesity. China therefore holds the potential for significant future demand in obesity treatments (see also http://www.mediligence.com/rpt/rpt-s835.htm).