Rising Obesity in OECD Countries

By 2030, obesity rates may reach 47% in US, 39% in Mexico and 35% in England according to the latest Obesity Update published by the OECD.

Adult obesity rates are highest in the United States, Mexico, New Zealand and Hungary, while they are lowest in Japan and Korea.

The report focuses in part on the damaging effect of obesity on labour market outcomes. The OECD report argues that:

"Education and socio-economic background affect obesity. Reciprocally, obesity damages labour market outcomes that, in turn, contribute to reinforcing existing social inequalities. Obese people have poorer job prospects compared to normal-weight people, they are less likely to be employed and have more difficulty re-entering the labour market."

The report is good for finding examples of government interventions in a number of OECD countries designed to tackle obesity.