预计到 2050 年，全世界超过一半的成年人以及三分之一的儿童、青少年及年轻成年人将超重或肥胖。这一结论出自一项对全球数据的新研究，这项发表在英国知名医学杂志《柳叶刀》上的研究覆盖了来自全球超过 200 个国家的数据。

What's described as one of the most comprehensive global studies of the rise in unhealthy weights, published in the journal The Lancet, makes for grim reading.

这项研究被称为针对非健康体重人数上升趋势的最全面的研究之一，这项被发表在《柳叶刀》杂志上的研究读起来令人颇为悲观。

The proportion of people who are overweight or obese has more than doubled in the past 30 years, but it's predicted that by 2050, this will include well over half of all adults and a third of children and adolescents.

超重或肥胖的人口比例在过去的三十年中增加了一倍多，不过预测称到 2050 年，超过一半的成年人和三分之一的儿童和青少年都将步入超重或肥胖的行列。

Obesity rates are surging right now. By the end of the decade, more people are forecast to be classed as obese than overweight. The picture is wildly uneven across the globe, with some of the biggest increases seen in lower- and middle-income countries.

肥胖率正在激增。到 2020 年代末，预计将有更多的人被划分为肥胖而非超重。全球各地的肥胖率变化情况大不相同，最大的肥胖率增幅将出现在低收入和中等收入国家。

But the study doesn't take into account the impact that new weight loss medications might have. And experts say if governments take urgent action now, there's still time to prevent what they describe as "a profound tragedy".

不过，这一研究并未把新减肥药可能产生的影响考虑在内。专家表示，如果各国政府现在采取紧急措施，那么依然来得及防止 “一场重大悲剧” 的发生。

词汇表

comprehensive 全面的，综合性的
grim 令人沮丧的，悲观的
surging 激增
forecast 预测
wildly 极其地，非常地
take into account 考虑到，顾及

听力练习

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. Which sentence best describes the report's message?
a. The report is generally positive.
b. The report is entirely negative.
c. The report is mostly negative with a hopeful final message.

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. The proportion of overweight and obese people has increased.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

2. A _______ of children and adolescents will be overweight or obese by 2050.

3. Obesity rates are similar across the globe.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

4. What has the study not considered regarding obesity trends?
a. the impact of people's incomes
b. the impact of government action
c. the impact of new weight loss medications

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. It's predicted that by 2050, this will include ________________ half of all adults and a third of children and adolescents.

2. By the end of the decade, more people ________________ forecast to be classed as obese than overweight.

答案

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. c. The study's findings are mostly negative, but the report ends by mentioning the potential impact of new weight loss drugs, and that there is still time to prevent "a profound tragedy".

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. a. True. The proportion of people who are overweight or obese has more than doubled in the past 30 years.

2. A third of children and adolescents will be overweight or obese by 2050.

3. b. False. The picture is wildly uneven across the globe.

4. c. The study doesn't take into account the impact that new weight loss medications might have.

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. It's predicted that by 2050, this will include well over half of all adults and a third of children and adolescents.

2. By the end of the decade, more people are forecast to be classed as obese than overweight.