The Obesity Problem

Jose Graziano da Silva, director-general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned of "the globalisation of obesity" affecting both rich and poor countries.

"If we do not find concrete ways to stop this constant increase, the number of obese people will soon be as high as the number of people who are hungry," he said.

One in nine people around the world goes hungry every night, while one in eight adults are obese, according to the latest figures.

 As governments seek to improve people's eating habits in the face of resistance from food and drink manufacturers Chile mandates comprehensive labelling of foods that are high in sugar, salt, saturated fats and calories. Unhealthy products also cannot be advertised on Chilean television or the internet, or use toys, cartoons or stickers to encourage children to eat them.

Xochitl Galvez Ruiz, a senator in Mexico - which has one of the world's highest diabetes rates - said she will continue to push for a food labelling law similar to Chile.