Weighty problem for third of people

Obesity has tripled in nations like China, say researchers

WASHINGTON - More than 2 billion children and adults, or one third of the world's population, are now overweight or obese, according to a new study released on Monday.

The study, in which researchers assembled data from 195 countries and territories to model trends in overweight or obese and related health problems and deaths, showed that the prevalence of obesity has doubled since 1980 in more than 70 countries and has continuously increased in most other nations.