Johnson, who didn't blame British eating habits, called for greater help to counter the rising obesity among Britons. "As this report starkly demonstrates, people in the U.K. are not more gluttonous than previous generations and individual action alone will not be sufficient," Johnson said.
The obesity analysis by British government think-tank Foresight, run by the Office for Science, described Britain as an "obesogenic" society, where excess weight has become a rule. By 2050, 60 percent of British men, 50 percent of women and a quarter of children and young people will be obese unless drastic action is taken, the report predicts.
According to the most recent Health Study for England the number of overweight and obese people has tripled in the last 25 years. One in four adults are now obese and compared to about one-third of adults in the United States who are obese. Two-thirds are overweight.
Obese people have a greater risk for life-threatening conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. The government pledged to draw up new plans to combat bulging waistlines by designing towns and cities to promote walking and cycling and encouraging people to buy healthier food.
