A study has found that the number of people who have become dangerously overweight halved in the three years after the financial crisis of 2007. The results surprised researchers because they expected waistlines to expand as the economic downturn affected family incomes. Previous studies have found that people with less money tend to buy foods which are cheaper but higher in calories, like takeout and pre-packaged meals -- which is why poorer families are more likely to gain weight. Academics do not yet know why the most recent research appears to suggest that having less money reduces the number of people becoming fat. But the effect was seen regardless of family income, which suggests a general trend across the population and could be a sign that the healthy-eating message is having an impact at a time when people are being more careful about how they shop. (Daily Mail)