Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Emerging Problem of Obesity in Developing Countries

  • Chapter
Nutrition and Health in Developing Countries

Part of the book series: Nutrition ◊ and ◊ Health ((NH))

  • 296 Accesses

Abstract

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Popkin BM. The nutrition transition and its health implications in lower income countries. Public Health Nutr 1998; 1: 5–21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Popkin BM, Richards MK, Monteiro CA. Stunting is associated with overweight in children of four nations that are undergoing the nutrition transition. J Nutr 1996; 126: 3009–3016.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Popkin BM, Ge K, Zhai F, Guo X, Ma H, Zohoori N. The nutrition transition in China: a cross-sectional analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr 1993; 47: 333–346.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Mroz T., Popkin BM. Poverty and the economic transition in the Russian Federation. Econ Devel Cult Change 1995; 44:-1–31.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Popkin BM, Zohoori N, Baturin A. The nutritional status of the elderly in Russia, 1992 through 1994. Am J Public Health 1996; 86: 355–360.

    Google Scholar 

  6. World Health Organization Expert Committee. Physical Status: the Use and Interpretation of Anthropometry: Report of a Who Expert Committee. Geneva: WHO Technical Report Series 854. WHO, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Popkin BM, Doak C. The obesity epidemic is a worldwide phenomenon. Nutr Rev 1998; 56: 106–114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Monteiro CA, Mondini L, de Souza ALM, Popkin BM. The nutrition transition in Brazil. Eur J Clin Nutr 1995; 49: 105–113.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Shetty PS, James WPT. BMI Distribution in Developed and Developing Countries. In Body Mass Index: a Measure of Chronic Energy Deficiency in Adults. FAO Food and Nutrition Papers No. 56. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Dufour DL, Staten LK, Reina JC, Spun GB. Anthropometry and secular changes in stature of urban Colombian women of differing socioeconomic status. Am J Human Biol 1994; 6: 749–760.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Sanchez-Castillo C, Lara JJ, James WPT. Diet and nutritional trends in Mexico. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of Nutrition, Montreal. Canadian Federation of Biological Sciences, Ottawa: Canadian Federation of Biological Sciences, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Berdasco A. Body mass index values in the Cuban adult population. Eur J Clin Nutr 1994; 48 (suppl 3): S155 - S164.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ge K, Zhai F, Yan H. The Dietary and Nutrition Status of Chinese Population. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dhurandhar NV, Kulkarni PR. Prevalence of obesity in Bombay. Intl J Obesity 1992; 16: 397–375.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sachdev HPS. Nutritional status of children and women in India: recent trends. NFI Bull, 1997; 18(3).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Tanphaichitr V, Kulapongse S, Pakpeankitvatana R, Leelahagul P, Tamwiwat C, Lochaya S. Prevalence of obesity and its associated risks in urban Thais. In: Progress in Obesity Research 1990. Oomura Y, Tarui S, Inoue S, Shimazu T, eds. London: Libbey, 1991, pp. 649–653.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Solon FS. Nutrition Related Chronic Diseases in the Philippines. Nutrition Center of the Philippines Report Series, 2(1). Makati City, Philippines: Nutrition Center of the Philippines, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ismail MN, Zawaih H, Chee SS, Ng KK. Prevalence of obesity and chronic energy deficiency (CED) in adult Malaysians. Malay J Nutr 1995; 1: 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Federated States of Micronesia. Department of Human Resources, Office of Health Services. Technical Report Prepared for the Government and Department of Human Resources of the Federated States of Micronesia: The 1987/88 National Nutrition Survey of the Federated States of Micronesia. Noumea, New Caledonia: South Pacific Commission, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Hodge AM, Dowse GK, Zimmet PZ. Obesity in Pacific populations. Pac Health Dialog 1996; 3 (1): 77–86.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Tassie JM, Papoz L, Barny S, Simon D. The CALDIA Study Group, Nutritional status in adults in the pluri-ethnic population of New Caledonia. Intl J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1997; 21: 61–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. McGarvey ST, Quested C, Tufa J. Correlates and predictors of cross-sectional and longitudinal adiposity in adults from Samoa and American Samoa. Manuscript. Providence, RI: Department of Medicine, Brown University, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Tonga, Kingdom of. National Food and Nutrition Committee. The 1986 National Nutrition Survey of the Kingdom of Tonga. Technical Report. Noumea, New Caledonia: South Pacific Commission, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Saito S. 1991 National Nutrition Survey, Main Report. Republic of Fiji, Suva, Fiji: National Food and Nutrition Committee, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Al-Isa AN. Prevalence of obesity among adult Kuwaitis: a cross-sectional study. Intl J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1995; 19: 431–433.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Al-Nuaim AR, Al-Rubeaan K, Al-Mazrou Y, Al-Attar O, Al-Daghari N, Khoja T. High prevalence of overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia. Intl J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1996; 20: 547–552.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. al-Mannai A, Dickerson JWT, Morgan JB, Khalfan H. Obesity in Bahraini adults. J R Soc Health 1996; 116: 30–32, 37–40.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ajlouni K, Jaddou H, Batieha A. Obesity in Jordan. Intl J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1998; 22: 624–628.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Khorshid A, Galal OM. National Agricultural Research Project. Final Technical Report. Development of Food Consumption Monitoring System for Egypt, Oct. 1, 1992-Aug 31, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Morocco, Kingdom of. Dirreccion de la Statistique. Consommation et dispueses des ménages 1984/85. Vol 6, Situation nutritionnelle de la population du Maroc. Rabat, Morocco: Ministere de Affaire Economique et Sociale, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Delpeuch F, Cornu A, Massamba J-P, Traissac P, Maire B. Is body mass index sensitively related to socio-economic status and to economic adjustment? A case study from the Congo. Eur J Clin Nutr 1994; 48 (suppl 3): S141 - S147.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Jooste PL, Steenkamp HJ, Benade AJS, Rossouw JE. Prevalence of overweight and obesity and its relation to coronary heart disease in the CORIS study. S Afr Med J 1988; 74: 101–104.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Steyn K, Fourie J, Rossouw JE, Langenhoven ML, Joubert G, Chalton DO. Anthropometric profile of the coloured population of the Cape Peninsula. S Afr Med J 1990; 78: 68–72.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Hodge AM, Dowse GK, Gareeboo H, Tuomilehto J, Alberti KG, Zimmet PZ. Incidence, increasing prevalence, and predictors of change in obesity and fat distribution over 5 years in the rapidly developing population of Mauritius. Intl J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1996; 20: 137–146.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Forrester T, Wilks R, Bennett F, McFarlane-Anderson N, McGee D, Cooper R, Fraser H. Obesity in the Caribbean. In: The Origins and Consequences of Obesity. Chadwick DJ, Cardew G, eds. Ciba Foundation Symposium 201. Chichester, UK: Wiley, pp. 17–31.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Bourne LT, Walker ARP. The nutrition transition in the Republic of South Africa. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of Nutrition. Monrtreal: Canadian Federation of Biological Sciences (In Press).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Monteiro CA. The changing nature of nutritional disorders in the developing countries: the case of Brazil. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of Nutrition. Montreal: Canadian Federation of Biological Sciences (In Press).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Popkin BM, Paeratakul S, Zhai F, Ge K. Body weight patterns among the Chinese: results from the 1989 and 1991 China health and nutrition surveys. Am J Public Health 1995; 85: 690–694.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Popkin BM, Paeratakul S, Zhai F, Ge K. Dietary and environmental correlates of obesity in a population study in China. Obes Res 1995; 3 (suppl 2): 135S - 143S.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Ge K, Weisell R, Guo S, Cheng L, Ma H, Zhai F, Popkin BM. The body mass index of Chinese adults in the 1980s. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 1994; 48 (suppl 3): S148 - S154.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Dowse GK, Gareeboo H, Alberti KG, Zimmet P, Tuomilehto J, Purran A, et al. Changes in population cholesterol concentrations and other cardiovascular risk factor levels after five years of the non-communicable disease intervention programme in Mauritius. BMJ 1995; 311: 1255–1259.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Uusitalo U, Feskens EJ, Tuomilehto J, Dowse G, Haw U, Fareed D, et al. Fall in total cholesterol concentration over five years in association with changes in fatty acid composition of cooking oil in Mauritius: cross sectional survey. BMJ 1996; 313: 1044–1046.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Flegal KM, Troiano RP, Pamuk ER, Kuczmarski RJ, Campbell SM. The influence of smoking cessation on the prevalence of overweight in the United States. N Engl J Med 1995; 333: 1165–1170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Hodge AM, Dowse GK, Toelupe P, Collins VR, Imo T, Zimmet PZ. Dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity in western Samoa over the 13 year period 1978–1991. Intl J Obes Relat Metab Disord, 1994; 18: 419–428.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Hodge AM, Dowse GK, Zimmet PZ, Collins VR. Prevalence and secular trends in obesity in Pacific and Indian Ocean Island populations. Obes Res 1995; 3 (suppl 2): 77S - 87S.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Taylor R, Badcock J, King H, Pargeter K, Zimmet P, Fred T, et al. Dietary intake, exercise, obesity and noncommunicable disease in rural and urban populations of three Pacific Island countries. J Am Coll Nutr 1992; 11: 283–293.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Brown PJ, Konner M. An anthropological perspective on obesity. Ann NY Acad Sci 1987; 499: 29–46.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Hodge AM, Dowse GK, Toelupe P, Collins VR, Zimmet PZ. The Association of modernization with dyslipidaemia and changes in lipid levels in the polynesian population of western Samoa. Intl J Epidemiol 1997; 26: 297–306.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Levitt NS, Katzenellenbogen JM, Bradshaw D, Hoffman MN, Bonnici F. The prevalence and identification of risk factors for NIDDM in urban Africans in Cape Town, South Africa. Diabetes Care 1993; 16: 601–607.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. World Cancer Research Fund in association with American Institute for Cancer Research. Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective. Washington DC: American Institute for Cancer Research, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Zimmet PZ. Kelly West Lecture. Challenges in diabetes epidemiology-from West to the rest. Diabetes Care 1991; 15: 232–252.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Zimmet PZ, McCarty DJ, de Courten MP. The global epidemiology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome. J Diabet Complic 1997; 11: 60–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Ford ES, Williamson DF, Liu S. Weight change and diabetes incidence: findings from a national cohort of US adults. Am J Epidemiol 1997; 146: 214–222.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. O’Dea K, Patel M, Kubisch D, Hopper J, Traianedes K. Obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia in a central Australian aboriginal community with a long history of acculturation. Diabetes Care 1993; 16: 1004–1010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Bray GA, Popkin BM. Dietary fat intake does affect obesity! Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 68: 1157–1173.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Paeratakul S, Popkin BM, Ge K, Adair LS, Stevens J. Changes in diet and physical activity affect the body mass index of Chinese adults. Intl J Obesity 1998; 22: 424–432.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Colleen M. Doak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Barry M. Popkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Division of Ocular Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Richard D. Semba MD, MPH

  2. Helen Keller International — Regional Headquarters, Jakarta, Indonesia

    Martin W. Bloem MD, PhD

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Doak, C.M., Popkin, B.M. (2001). The Emerging Problem of Obesity in Developing Countries. In: Semba, R.D., Bloem, M.W. (eds) Nutrition and Health in Developing Countries. Nutrition ◊ and ◊ Health. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-225-8_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-225-8_18

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-6052-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-225-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation