Smug Europeans Getting Fat Too Frankly, having a pretty terrific body, I get a little tired of the 'fat American' stereotype. Since the bulk of arrogant old Europe has nothing going for them they force themselves to believe that socialism is good and that Americans are fat. Turns out Europe is plenty fat too. I think I will go to E-Trade and buy some McDonald's stock to keep that trend going. Of children ages 6 through 10, 36% are overweight, the Italian Ministry of Health reported last month. Among the findings: 25% of Italian children are now overweight or obese making them the heaviest in Europe. Throughout Europe, the scales are bouncing upward. In many countries, more than half of adults are now overweight and up to 30% obese. In Britain, 21% of men and nearly 24% of women are now considered obese, a three-fold increase in 20 years, according to the International Obesity Task Force, a London-based consumer group that collaborates with the World Health Organization (news - web sites). This month, the task force warned that without urgent action, obesity levels in Britain will soar 40% or more within a single generation. A 2001 study showed over 11% of adults in Finland were obese. What is Europe's answer? A 'Fat Tax' of course! Taxes are always the answer in Europe. The British Medical Association already has called for a 17.5% "fat tax" on junk foods. Article Here