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BBC Learning English

Words in the News


Global obesity on the rise
18 May 2012



Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com




The World Health Organisation says more and more people around the world are
suffering from health conditions which increase their risk of stroke, heart disease and
cancer. Recent statistics compiled using data from all 194 member states, showed
conditions such as high blood pressure are increasing in all regions of the world. BBC
Correspondent Imogen Foulkes reports.

More fat, more sugar, more salt, less exercise more and more people around the
world are suffering the consequences. Since 1980, the WHO's report reveals levels of
obesity have doubled in every region of the world. Half a billion people, or 12 per cent of
the global population, are now considered obese. One in three adults suffer from high
blood pressure a condition that causes half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease.
And blood sugar levels are rising too 10 per cent of the world's population is
diabetic.

The WHO's report is not all bad news though: the statistics show that maternal
mortality rates have fallen dramatically in the last 20 years, from over half a million in
1990 to less than 300,000 in 2010. And vaccination campaigns have significantly
reduced deaths from childhood diseases such as measles.

But the global rise in deaths from heart disease, cancer and diabetes, and the rise in the
conditions which lead to those deaths, is causing alarm. The WHO wants all its member
states to tackle risk factors such as poor diet, and smoking, and set targets for
reducing deaths.


Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com



Vocabulary and definitions
exercise activity, physical movement
the consequences the effects
obesity fatness, having too much body weight
suffer experience, endure something negative
blood sugar levels the amount or concentration of glucose in the blood
diabetic to suffer from diabetes - a disease where the body
produces too much sugar in the blood
mortality rates deaths in an area relating to the population number
vaccination

medicine to protect against diseases

risk factors behaviour that increases the likelihood of something
set targets establish goals


More about this story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14669209

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/05/120518_witn_global_obesity.shtml

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