Overweight and obesity rates might be leveling off, but as more nations become more developed, waist expansion is spreading worldwide. In fact, the global girth rate appears to be untouched by an equally epidemic and persistent obsession with diets—diets of all kinds and of all claims.

Most Americans continue to be overweight, with a substantial minority being obese (32%) or extremely obese by CDC standards.

"If we all lived on grass-fed beef, dry-cured bacon, fresh sustainable fish, nuts, pulses, wholegrain bread, good olive oil, eggs and dairy, more fresh vegetables, less fruit, and no sugar or fast food ever, we would save billions personally and nationally," says Dr Ian White, an intensive care specialist.