The new findings actually underestimate the true impact of obesity on society because they don't address the costs of obesity-related illness and other factors, says Mokdad, who was not involved with the current study.

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Likewise, to reduce obesity in modern society, we will have to alter the way society is organized.

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The problems of obesity and overeating in our society receive a lot of attention.

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And politicians believe that every problem in society, from religious and racial segregation to obesity and laziness, has a solution involving schools.

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When Hostess Brands Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month, just three years after it emerged from its last bankruptcy, the media took a break from its usual reporting on obesity and proclaimed that Hostess was a victim of a suddenly healthy-eating society that has, unnoticed by you or me, taken to dunking organic bean sprouts in its coffee.

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And I think on a societal level, the understanding that obesity can have fundamental genetic causes and is not always due to moral failing may permeate society and we may treat obese people differently.

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After all, night workers sacrifice their own health to keep our 24-7 society running safely, facing increased risks of cancer, hypertension, heart disease, hormonal disruption, obesity, diabetes, depression and occupational injury due to sleep deficiency and chronic occupational jet lag.

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Obesity rates among American women have stabilised, an early sign of a turning-point in the great fattening of society.

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