[grudk]

It's a huge problem in the US, but FWIW morbid obesity is actually MORE common in the UK than in the US by percentage of the population now.

The rest of Europe is catching up fast, and as such the diet industry is booming internationally. Childhood obesity is increasingly common in China, too. My friend who sells diet products sells does big business in Asia, India, and even Africa.

Being in the medical profession, I can tell you that the truly obese are seldom seen. The problem is quite a bit worse than you imagine, but to characterize it as an American phenomenon is inaccurate. We are just 'ahead' of most countries with this problem. Not for long, though, I suspect.