Hi, Fionn. While we do use a startlingly disproportionate amount of resources, and probably have the most guns, I rather doubt that there's a direct link. I see it as more a juxtoposition of opportunity, national economy, human nature, and logistics. We're blessed with a bountiful, productive land, and it's simply possible and easy to be wasteful. Sharing it with the most needy (e.g. Ethiopia) is not easy, and perhaps not possible.

I read a similar news item about Europe following our unfortunate example. I believe the definition of "obese" was 20% or more above ideal body weight. Of course, there was no definition of ideal body weight. (Then one could raise the questions: Medically ideal? Culturally ideal? In whose judgment? Is geography [climate, etc.] factored in? But that's a whole other kettle of fish.)

It is sometimes amazing the lengths that are gone to in apparently futile gestures to "do something" about this (fat-free foods, etc.). The typical example is the overweight person having a hamburger, french fries, ice cream--and a diet soda. Diet soda--why bother? Reminds me of the story of the millionaire who spent tens of thousands of dollars having his mansion's ballroom built, with all sorts of lavish appointments--and a closet with the interior left unpainted to save money (maybe a couple hundred dollars). Ah, human nature!