For investors, this presents a number of opportunities. Some companies are helping people to manage conditions associated with being overweight.
Some are developing ingredients that actively encourage healthy eating or weight loss. Some are making it simple and easy to exercise more. And some are focusing on plus-size customers so they can wear clothes that both look good and feel good.
Several of these firms offer long-term growth potential, as governments, medics and individuals wage the battle of the bulge.
N BROWN - Larger clothes retailer
Look at virtually any clothing group and they will offer options for the more rounded consumer. Invariably however, these are the same garments as those on sale to skinnier customers, only larger.