“Tsunami of obesity” threatens all regions of world, researchers find

“Tsunami of obesity” threatens all regions of world, researchers find -- Wise 342 -- bmj.com: "The research, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization, shows that systolic blood pressure is currently highest in low income and middle income countries. Between 1980 and 2008 mean systolic blood pressure declined markedly in high income countries by 7.3 mm Hg, whereas it increased in low income countries by 3.3 mm Hg. The greatest falls in systolic pressure were seen in Australasian women and North American men. Increases in systolic pressure happened in some middle income and low income countries, including parts of Oceania, East Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, and West Africa.

Total blood cholesterol concentrations were still highest in high income countries, but the greatest decreases occurred in Western high income countries. There were increases in cholesterol levels in East and South East Asia, particularly Japan, China, and Thailand."