A new study showed that the number of people who weigh more than they should be is higher than the number of people who face hunger and poor conditions and are undernourished. According to US professor Barry Popkin's survey, there are 1 billion obese and 800 millions undernourished people across the world.

Barry Popkin is a Professor at the University of North California and presented his findings at the Australian International Association of Agricultural Economists. Besides unhealthy diets, lifestyle and little physical exercise, the raising number of obese individuals and the reducing of famine in poor countries are the main reasons for the survey numbers.

"The reality is that globally far more obesity than under-nutrition exists. Obesity is the norm globally and under-nutrition, while still important in a few countries and in targeted populations in many others, is no longer the dominant disease," noted Professor Popkin.

The researcher also pointed out the fact that obesity has been "passed on" from rich to poor social classes. Namely, not only rich people who can afford anything are overweight, but also more and more individuals from lower social and economic classes start to gain extra weight and bad eating habits.

Therefore, the most appropriate solution given by the University of North California to countries was to manage unhealthy foods prices so that not everyone affords the rich in trans fats aliments, for instance. On the contrary, prices of fruits, vegetables and other healthy, nutritious foods should be very low so that anyone could afford them. However, this would call for special attention in how people's diets are manipulated.

"A central issue affecting the world's public health is the need to shift the relative prices of a range of foods to encourage healthier, less energy-dense and more nutrient-dense foods. We subsidize some things, we don't subsidize others. We regulate some items. So, for instance, if we charge money for every calorie of soft drink and fruit drink that was consumed, people would consume less of it. If we subsidize fruit and vegetable production, people would consume more of it and we would have a healthier diet."

Also, regular and more exercise is needed in order to have a healthy lifestyle and prevent the couch potato state. This does not necessarily mean that people should start making expensive subscriptions at the gym. Instead, they should try walking more and being more involved in simple household activities, going on trips etc.

"Japanese cities are based on efficient public transport - and walking," Prof. Popkin stated. On the contrary, "the average American commutes to work, drives to the supermarket and does as little walking as possible."

"Obesity and overweight bring with them significant risks of chronic disease and premature death and adjusting domestic policy to encourage a less sedentary lifestyle is literally a matter of life and death," he concluded.