The emerging problem of obesity in developing countries
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This century has witnessed a remarkable change in patterns of disease. The control of infectious disease, together with changing life styles, has led to longer life expectancies and the emergence of chronic disease as a primary cause of death. This change from infectious to chronic disease is known as the epidemiologic transition. Although this transition occurred first in industrialized nations, developing countries are experiencing the same changes in disease prevalence and mortality patterns, but at a much accelerated rate. In conjunction with the increase in chronic disease are lifestyle patterns, such as diet and physical activity, that have led to increasing rates of obesity in addition to related diseases.i This corollary to the epidemiologic transition is known as the nutrition transition (1). The nutrition transition involves the emergence of obesity at levels that are felt to be highly excessive, together with the corresponding changes in diet and physical activity. This phenomenon is no longer confined to the industrialized nations of Europe and North America. The vast changes in diet and physical activity in lower and middle income countries of Asia, Latin America, the Carribean, Africa, and the Middle East have led to an emerging epidemic of obesity as a worldwide phenomenon.
CHAP
Nutrition and Health in Developing Countries
Nutrition ◊ and ◊ Health
Doak, Colleen Marie
Popkin, Barry M.
Semba, Richard D.
Bloem, Martin W.
2001
447-464
Humana Press
978-1-4757-6052-1
10.1007/978-1-59259-225-8_18
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