300 million: Estimated number of obese adults in the world.

At least 30: Total Body Mass Index (BMI) for a person to be considered obese. The BMI is a number calculated from a person?s weight and height that is a fairly reliable indicator of body fat. BMI = Weight (lbs) x 703 divided by height (in)2

18.5-24.9: Adult BMI range that is considered normal. Adult BMI that is below 18.5 is considered underweight, while BMI ranging from 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.

2.6: Increase in percentage points of the prevalence of overweight and obese Filipinos in the country from 2003 to 2008, according to the 2008 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST).

27 out of 100: Proportion of Filipino adults in 2008 aged 20 years and above who are obese, according to the same survey. In 1998, there were about 20 out of 100 adults who were overweight. The number increased to 24 in 2003.

5 to 7 times more: Likelihood among obese people to have a heart attack, compared to people with normal weight

Less than 1 percent: Mortality rate of the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding operation, a procedure that involves tying a gastric band around the stomach pouch to restrict food intake. It has been touted as a successful and safe way to fight obesity.

5.8: Volume in grams of trans fat, an unhealthy substance made through the chemical process of hydrogenation of oils, that an average American adult consumes in a day.

8: Volume in grams of trans fat in a medium serving (147 grams) French fries.

3: Volume in grams of trans fat in a40-gram chocolate candy bar

2 in every 100: Proportion of Filipino preschoolers who are overweight (2008)

5 in every 100: Proportion of adolescent Filipinos who are overweight (2008)

Compiled by Schatzi Quodala, Inquirer Research
Sources: who.int, cdc.gov, pia.gov.ph, fnri.dost.gov.ph, businessweek.com, medterms.com , Inquirer Archives