It's not. This is a myth created by the CDC. Not an intentional myth, but an overhyping of research data which were found to be faulty. Using the CDC criterion Will Smith fit into the Obese category. An overzealous press trumpeted the story for a couple of months, and when the story became old the mistake was uncovered, only by then nobody was interested and the press didn't want to lose face.
The U.S. media will point out any problem in the U.S. first, and this information is broadcast all over the world. CNN, Fox, etc. will tell you about the health of U.S. citizens, but they will only infrequently tell you of similar trends in Europe or anywhere else. Not too many months back it was in the UK and European press that weight gain was as much, if not moreso, a problem in Europe than the U.S. I know because I visit every year. Two trends:
- The world as a whole is now richer than it ever has been. People are able to spend more money on anything including food. Snack foods and treats were rare when I was young, and just weren't as available as they are now.
- People are living longer due to new medical and drug treatments. The CDC and the WHO along with researchers the world over conquer problem after problem, until the #1 impediment to good health is now seen(or at least was for a couple of months) as bad diet and lack of excersize(spellcheck?). This is only the next domino to knock down, and so it gets the press. I wonder what the #1 cause of death will be when the average lifespan is 85?
Now, don't believe everything you read, and don't throw around the latest disinformation in a defamitory way just because you can't bother to look up the facts.
Brent S.