Susan,

Get over it.

Sally, london,

For all those that think that obesity is a 'rich nation' fixture, Mexico is 3rd. I wouldn't categorise it as a rich nation by far. There is a lot of fresh food available in Mexican street markets which makes the base of a typical family diet. On the same venue, Mexico is the no. 1 consumer of pop/fizzy/soda drinks. I believe that it has to do more with food culture than with wealth.

We pay more for food in the UK because it is mostly imported and the taxes it has to pay.

Looking at some history books, the ration years that started during WW II and continued for a decade, the diets that people had made them quite healthy. We live in days of over-indulgence. If we had a 'rationed' diet, the level of obesity would drop significantly. But who would like now to have sweets, bread, eggs, meat rationed?

Alex, Loughborough,

Dear John

Are the english paying for our two dinners with the oil revenue originating in Scotland? Most probably.

Susan , Edinburgh, scotland

One of the reasons in Singapore may be it is so hard to own a car. Unless you are rich and you have noticed rich people in Singapore are fat. I have noticed the same of people in most Asian Countries. I have been shopping the last month on my bike the effort to go shopping and I can only carry a small amount in my back pack means my cupboards are empty and I have lost 2.5 killos in 2 weeks I have done some more exercise and I was a bit overweight due to a gourmet holiday but being unable to load up the trolley and just drive to the shops at any time the same effect could be with walking and lets face it you will not go to a drive though without a car when your kids say they are hungry late at night. I will have my car back at the end of the month and temptation will return but perhaps I will write a book on the bike diet.

James Hendry, Adelaide, Australia

Scotland needs independence. At first, like the student who finally flies the coup, they'll face some hardships; they'll flog their valuables (Royal estates to the Saudis); then they'll borrow; and when there's nothing left to sell and nobody left to borrow from, they'll lose weight.

Lawrence, Liverpool, Englan

I suppose that when they become independent they will therefore have to increase their health budget from half the remaining North Sea oil revenue then?

Pete Balchin, Solicitor , Bristol, UK

Maria, Cardiff

Wales is not a country it is a principality of England, I would have thought living in Wales you would be aware of that.

Derek, Edinburgh, Scotland

Maybe before implementing these ideas, the government should ask the teenagers whose lives they have already affected by doing these things.
I've left school now, but it's an absolute nightmare. I know you parents are looking out for your kids, but so will i be soon enough...
Anyway, my point is... When i was at school, the only things in the vending machines was fruit (not fresh fruit, and generally bruised by the time it hit the bottom), milkshakes and water. In canteens the food became ridiculous, there was nothing anybody enjoyed... It was all salads or fruit salads. Nobody actually wanted to eat at schools, as a result of this the Year 11's (the only group allowed off school grounds at lunch times) were being begged to buy food from the coop for the younger children to avoid them going hungry.
Why do people not realise that you cannot force foods onto someone?!
The ironic thing is, it was the overweight pupils that ate fruit & veg all the time and avoided fatty food!!

Kay, Lincolnshire,

If the Scots are having two dinners, remember it's the English who are paying for them.

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

interesting choice of countries-no asian ones.
vast range here-along poverty lines,but opposite to UK.
fat folk are rich,thin ones poor in asia generally
singapore is however developed,and generally little obesity.
no cheap freezer shops as well,markets still used,and a huge choice of cheap fresh food.
my wife cant understand why we pay so much in UK for food or meals when we visit ,and neither can I.

fraser kelly, singapore, singapore

Where is Wales? They would surely beat Scotland for fatness?

maria, cardiff, UK

Hold on a minute! Looking at your chart there is an 8.2 gap between Scotland and the US, but only a 2.5 or 3 point gap between the UK and Scotland depending on how you look at it.
Isn't that just as embarrassing for us? Call that a good news story? Get a grip!

Lee, Dorset,