According to experts, development has brought about a new global scourge -- widespread malnourishment among overweight individuals eating calorie-rich, nutrient-poor diets. In fact, the world's population of 1.2 billion overfed and undernourished individuals now equals those starving from a lack of healthy food.

The world is in the midst of a nutrition crisis, and the impact of the global 'nutrition crisis' is large, but also largely unrecognized. According to the report, hunger declined slightly, especially in Asia and Latin America, over the past few decades. A recent UN report estimates that 790 million people now experience hunger daily, compared with 918 million in 1970. However, at the same time, increasing affluence has triggered a global boom in unhealthy overeating.

Consumption of fat and sugar has surged far beyond earlier levels as people eat more livestock products and as oil and sugar are added to foods of all kinds. In fact, fatty and sugary foods have in large part replaced fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods in the diets of millions, so much so that "one-fifth of the 'vegetables' Americans eat are French fries and potato chips." The result? High levels of obesity, surging cholesterol levels, and deficiencies in important vitamins and minerals that leave overweight individuals prone to chronic disease.

The authors also point out that the condition of being overweight or obese is no longer found only in wealthy nations. For example, the numbers of overweight people in the Chinese population rose from 9% to 15% between 1989 and 1992, with similar increases charted in Latin and South America and Europe. Besides the starving and the poorly overfed, the Worldwatch report points to a third group of several billion people at risk from malnutrition.

Described as the 'hidden hungry,' these people appear to be adequately fed, but are nonetheless debilitated by a lack of essential vitamins and minerals. Food companies tend to make more money from processed, high-calorie foods, and aggressive marketing campaigns capitalize on the natural human desire for fat and sugar. In America, trends toward 'supersizing' meals have led to an unrealistic image of what consists of a 'normal' food serving, while deep-frying has allowed citizens of less affluent nations to take in large quantities of fat without upping their meat intake.

"State of the World 2000" report, published by the Worldwatch Institute, a Washington, DC-based independent research group.