"Fire services count the cost of rescuing obese people"

smokers might not cost more than non-smokers: because they die earlier and everyone knows that the biggest chunk of cost is caused in old age, so it might come out even..

 

most people who are fat are not happy about it, and would love to get rid of it...
but habits are tenacious, and often combined with a severe a lack of knowledge about what's healthy and what not ,
but education starts at home when the kids are small... and it will probably take a few more generations until better habits have seeped through

whoever comes up with a proper remedy one day will make a fortune!!!

 

When in Thailand at Christmas, I noticed how everyone seemed to be getting around on little 125cc motor bikes or scooters. From babes in slings + barely able to stand ups in front of rider holding on to the handlebars, to youngsters riding pillion. No one seemed to be walking. I saw a kid of 8 in front with his mum riding pillion!
What on earth are their feet, knees and hips going to be like in 20 years time? It's the same in Nepal, India ect.ect.

 

If they're riding bikes like you describe (which I can well believe), then probably their feet, knees and hips will be the same as the rest of their body in 20 years, quite dead.

 

It's the same in the Caribbean, except they might have a pig and a wardrobe on board as well as the family.