Venezuela battles obesity amid dearth of good food

Venezuela's socialist government is sounding the alarm about growing waistlines in a country where record food shortages are making it harder to put healthy meals on the table, prompting many people to fill up on empty calories. Authorities launched a public relations campaign Tuesday to halt a steady rise in obesity that threatens to lead to a costly, public health crisis if left unchecked. Under the slogan ‘Get informed, eat healthy’ President Nicolas Maduro's government hopes over the next five years to cut in half the nearly 40 per cent rate of obesity among Venezuelans, a condition putting them at greater risk of heart disease and diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, 67.5 per cent of Venezuelans over age 20 are overweight, more than in any country in South America and nearly equal to the 69 per cent rate in the United States. The battle against the bulge comes as most Venezuelans complain they can't find enough to eat, according to AP.