Last week a study of 199 countries and territories confirmed what many people may have already noticed. 
上周一个针对199个国家和地区的研究证实了一个许多人可能已经注意到了的现象。

People around the world are getting fatter. 
即全世界的人都在变得越来越胖。

The study found that obesity has almost doubled since 1980.
研究发现，自1980年以来，全球肥胖人数几乎翻了一番。

Majid Ezzati at Imperial College London led the research team. 
该研究小组由伦敦帝国学院的马吉德·伊扎迪领导。

He says the results show that obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are no longer just found in wealthy nations. 
伊扎迪称，研究结果显示，肥胖症、高血压和高胆固醇不再局限于富裕国家。

These are now worldwide problems.
这已成为全球性难题。

The study appeared in the Lancet. 
该研究报告刊登在《柳叶刀》医学期刊上。

It shows that in 2008, almost 10% of men were obese. 
显示在2008年，近10%的男性有肥胖症。

That was up from about 5%t in 1980. 
而1980年只有约5%。

That same year, almost 8% of women were obese. 
1980年近8%的女性患肥胖症。

By 2008, the rate of obesity among women was almost 14%.
而到了2008年女性的肥胖比率达到近14%。

Obesity is commonly measured by body mass index, or BMI. 
肥胖一般用身体质量指数（BMI）来衡量。

This is a measure of a person's weight in relation to height. 
这是评估一个人体重和身高之间关系的标准。

A person with a BMI of 25-29 is considered overweight. 
一个人的身体质量指数若在25-29之间，就被认为是超重。

The World Health Organization defines obesity as a body mass index of 30 or more.
世界卫生组织（WHO）将身体质量指数达到30（或以上）定义为肥胖。

Pacific island nations have an average BMI of around 35 -- the highest in the world.
太平洋诸岛国居民的身体质量指数平均在35左右，为世界之最。

But the study found that the United States had the single highest average among wealthy countries. 
但研究发现，美国是富裕国家中个人平均指数最高的国家。

Men and women had an average BMI of over 28. 
男女的平均身体质量指数超过28。

New Zealand was next. 
其次为新西兰。

Japan had the lowest, at about 22 for women and 24 for men.
日本则是最低的，男女分别约为24和22。

The report had some good news, however, about high blood pressure,. 
但该报告也有一些有关高血压的好消息。

The percentage of people with this major cause of heart attacks and strokes has fallen since 1980. 
高血压是引起心脏病发作和中风的主因，而自1980年以来患高血压人群的百分比有所下降。

Dr. Ezzati credits improved testing and treatment in wealthy countries. 
伊扎迪博士将之归功于富裕国家检测方法与治疗的进步。

He says a decrease in the use of salt and unhealthful fats probably also helped.
他称盐及有害脂肪摄入量的减少可能也起了些作用。

In the United States, new guidelines urge Americans to reduce salt, sugar and fatty meats and to eat more fish and whole grains. 
美国新的饮食方针力劝人们减少盐、糖和肥肉的摄入，多吃鱼和粗粮。

People are being urged to choose water over sugared drinks and to make fruits and vegetables half of a meal. 
并鼓励人们用水来代替含糖饮料，每顿饭要有一半的果蔬。

But whatever they eat, Americans are being urged to follow new advice from the government: eat less.
但无论人们吃些什么，他们都被敦促要遵循美国政府的新建议，即少吃点。

Lynn Goldman, dean of public health at George Washington University, praised the dietary guidelines released last week.
乔治·华盛顿大学公共卫生学院院长琳恩·高曼称赞了上周发布的饮食方针。

"This is a call to go back to older ways of eating, to eating whole foods, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, more healthy foods. 
琳恩·高曼说：“这是个倡导，倡导人们回归旧的饮食方式，吃全营养食物、粗粮与果蔬，吃更健康的食物。

And hopefully these guidelines will be noticed worldwide and people will take steps to both increase their physical activity and to eat healthier."
希望全世界都能关注这些指南，人们能采取措施，既增加体育活动，又能吃得更健康。