Band 6+: The chart below gives Information about the percentage of the adult population who were overweight in four different countries in 1980, 1990 and 2000.

The bar chart illustrates obesity rates in Japan, Sweden, Britain and USA over a 30-year period, from 1980 to 2000.

Overall, it is clear that the percentage of overweight people has increased since 1980, and different countries experienced different upward dynamics. While the USA almost tripled their obesity rate by 2000, 3 other countries had doubled thier figures during this period.

In 1980, the USA had the highest proportion of overweight people, at approximately 17%. This figure increased to 20% in 1990 and surged to more than 30% in 2000. Similarly, Britain started at a lower figure (at 8%) and showed an upward trend to 11% by 1990, reaching it’s peak at 19% at 2000.

Japan in Sweeden also experienced a notable rise of obesity rate during 30-year period, but both showed relatively moderate increase in first decades. Japan started at approximately 2% in 1980 and grew to 3% in 1990, and Sweeden had 6% and 7% respectively. However, both if this countries almost tripled initial figures by 2000: Japan reached a peak at 5% and Sweden an 11%.