Obesity is a global health crisis. The World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that obesity can lead to a range of noncommunicable diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, various forms of cancer and mental health issues.
Having a high BMI is said to account for 60% of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and 20% of hypertension and coronary-heart disease.
Consumption of processed and fast food, trans fatty acids (TFAs), and sugar, combined with increasing portion sizes and decreased physical activity all accounts to high levels of obesity.