Photograph by: Philip Scott Andrews
Credit: AP

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A study released in Durban yesterday showed that of the country's estimated 49 million people:

• 29% of men and 56% of women over the age of 15 are overweight;

• 9% of men and 30% of women are obese; and

• 17% of children are overweight, 4.2% of them obese.

The shocking figures were presented by Discovery Health in a report that showed black women and white men are the most obese.

The factors that have significantly changed the way we eat are snacking, weekend eating, "super sizing", eating away from home and shopping at large supermarkets selling cheap, processed foods.

According to Dr Craig Nossel, head of wellness at Discovery's Vitality programme, the price of food was perceived as a barrier to healthy eating.

He said that about 62% of the respondents believed healthy food was more expensive.