In Australia, 60 per cent of adults are considered over-weight or obese. Among children, the number is one in four.
Worldwide, 1.5 billion adults are overweight, and half a billion are obese. 170 million children are also too heavy to be healthy.
Between countries, numbers vary widely.
When it comes to obesity among women, the figures are one in 20 in Japan, one in four in Australia and seven out of 10 in Tonga.
The reasons for the epidemic are many.
In the modern world, we lead more sedentary lives and eat more highly processed foods with hidden sugars and salts.
Those from lower socio-economic backgrounds tend to suffer more, and some developing countries are now also feeling the brunt.
As well as the associated health problems, obesity is costing governments billions.
Food labelling and taxing unhealthy foods are among the possible measures.
The obesity epidemic will be raised at a United Nations meeting in New York next month.
