Poor eating habits and physical health of human beings in the 21st century have become the focus of global discussions. It's much more complex than simply understanding and using the nutritional information available. A mix of financial circumstances, geographic location, and an individual's willpower are to blame, but it appears that unethical scientific studies, ill-informed decisions by members of government, and the availability of false information are the main ones. factors contributing to the status quo. However, it is clear that healthy people represent a lesser burden on society than those who overeat and do not exercise regularly. Obesity is an epidemic defined as the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that affects millions of people around the world. has. The disease is preventable, but more than 65% of the world's population lives in areas where overweight and obesity kill more than underweight, 10% of the world's adult population is clinically obese, and 40 million children under 5 years old are classified as overweight. The statistics are horrific, but the effects are particularly evident in the United States of America, where the effects are visible in every state. The obesity statistics in South Africa are no better. Currently, 29% of men and 56% of women are classified as overweight or obese and of these individuals, 71% have never tried to reduce their weight and 78% believe they are perfectly healthy. The fault seems to lie with westernization and urbanization, as well as the fact that we are among the largest consumers of alcohol in the world. Obesity has doubled since 1980 and is currently the fifth leading cause of death. The solution is almost impossible, especially with the current lackadaisical attitude...... middle of paper ......nts alone and it is expected to amount to $344 billion by 2018. This means that obesity-related treatments constitute 10% of annual medical expenses. On average, obese people spend 42 percent more on health care than people of a healthy weight, and obesity-related work absenteeism costs $4.3 billion annually. In conclusion, poor dietary habits and physical health of human beings only partly depend on the availability and understanding of nutritional information because the issue is much more complex. People are bombarded with information (correct or not) and are far more concerned about price and taste than their well-being. Simply put, the more informed we are about nutritional information, the more informed we can be as individuals to take responsibility for our own health. However, it is clear that healthy people represent less of a burden on society..