In a recent seminar at the International Food Policy Research Institute there was significant discussion of the situation in developing countries, where undernutrition and overnutrition often coexist. In these countries the overweight and obese segments of the populations do not immediately die of fatal diseases associated with protein-energy deficiencies. Instead, those who are overweight or obese will live with chronic health conditions that reduce the quality of life such as diabetes, stroke, gallbladder disease, heart disease, and certain cancers.
As the low- to middle-income countries around the world become more prosperous, increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in those countries tend to parallel their economic growth. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations describes obesity in the developing world as “A result of a series of changes in diet, physical activity, health and nutrition, collectively known as the nutrition transition.” These shifts include:
- declines in fruit, vegetable, and fiber consumption and increased intakes of calories, fats, and sugars in an environment of diversified food choices available at cheaper prices and
- physical inactivity because of less labor-intensive work, mechanized production, modern transportation, and sedentary leisure activities.
Combined with poor lifestyle choices, the transition to a more nutritious diet can increase the disease burden. For example, the World Health Organization estimates that more than 115 million people in developing countries have obesity-related health problems. Specifically, the number of people with diabetes is expected to double to 300 million by 2025, and three-quarters of that growth is projected to occur in the developing world.
Clearly, obesity is not just a US public health issue or one of industrialized nations alone; it is a global health concern.
For more information go to http://www.fao.org/FOCUS/E/obesity/obes2.htm.
