How should we combat obesity?

A subject's waist is measured during an obesity prevention study.
AP Photo/M. Spencer Green

"A new report by the McKinsey Global Institute says that the global cost of obesity has risen to $2 trillion annually — nearly as much as smoking or the combined impact of armed violence, war and terrorism," reports the Associated Press.

The report released Thursday focused on the economics of obesity and says 2.1 billion people — some 30 percent of the global population — are overweight or obese.

It also offers the stark prediction that nearly half of the world's adult population will be overweight or obese by 2030 should the present trends continue.

McKinsey says there's no single or simple solution to the problem, but global disagreement on how to move forward is hurting progress. The analysis is meant to offer a starting point on the elements of a possible strategy.

Today's Question: How should we combat obesity?

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