Obesity and hunger: where is the global balance?

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7528.0-d

BMJ 2005;331 (3 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7528.0-d

Obesity and hunger: where is the global balance?

Phasing out of market support for agricultural producers indeveloped countries is necessary as a first step in the fightagainst obesity, poverty, and hunger worldwide, says SchäferElinder (p 1333). She argues that the subsidising of agriculturaloverproduction in Europe has led to overconsumption and obesity.Also, the overproduction of food in rich countries distortsworld trade and undermines the agricultural sectors in developingcountries, hindering the eradication of hunger and poverty.