Reflections on the Human Condition - Api-fellowships.org

great divide between availability and scarcity, between
having power and lack of power? To what extent have
fast food chains invaded Southeast Asia and what are
their stakes in economic terms? How different is Japan
from Southeast Asia in confronting the western fast
food proliferation?
OBJECTIVES
General Objective: The objective of this project is to
examine perceptions about obesity in relation to
globalization and changing lifestyles in Southeast Asia.
Specific Objectives:
1. To examine the cultural dimension obesity among
selected groups,
2. To identify social and economic factors influencing
obesity,
3. To evaluate changes in eating pattern and lifestyles
of Southeast Asian adults, and
4. To assess the relationship between prevalence of
obesity and globalization fast food in Southeast
Asia and Japan.
BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE
Obesity today is a widespread health problem which affect
millions of people world wide irrespective of age, sex,
ethnic group, social status or place of residence
(developed or developing countries). (Seidell, 2001;
WHO, 1998) In fact, global fattening is a phenomenon
of the twenty first century. Obesity has become a
pandemic. Studies from developed countries and limited
data from developing countries testified to the increase
in prevalence over the past few decades. (Byers, 1993)
The nutritional problems in developing countries have
shifted from the previous problem of undernutrition
to the twin problem of undernutrition and obesity
or overnutrition. (Doak et al., 2005) This scenario is
alarming considering many countries are still facing the
threat of famine and hunger in some parts of the world
while the other half of its population is struggling to
dispose their excess fat.
Table 2 shows the sex-specific overweight (BMI>25)
and obesity (BMI>30.0) prevalence from a recent
nationally representative data from selected Southeast
Asian countries and Japan. (Nishida and Mucavele,
2005; Kantachuvessiri, 2005; Aekplakorn et al., 2004)
The table shows that among females, prevalence of
overweight was highest in Thai adults (33.9%).
Prevalence of obesity among Malaysian and Thai males
were, 4.0% and 3.5% respectively. While prevalence
of obesity among females, Thai adults show the
CHANGING LIFESTYLES AND HEALTH
163
highest prevalence (8.8%) followed by Malaysian adults
(7.6%). Since there is no recent data available from
Indonesia it is difficult to make an accurate comparison
between Southeast Asian countries.
The change of obesity rate among female adults is
rising at the rate of .2% in the Philippines from 1993
to 1998 (Table 3). The prevalence of obesity in Japan
also showed an increase in rate from 1.9% in males and
2.9% in females in 1994 (Yoshiike et al 1998) to 2.9% and
3.3% in 2001, respectively (Table 3). The prevalence of
overweight among males was highest in Japan (26.8%)
followed by Malaysia (24.1%). However, the largest
in rate of change in obesity prevalence is in Thailand,
where the obesity rate rose by 0.3% and 0.53% from
1991 to 1997 in adult males and females, respectively.
Table 2: The national overweight and obesity
prevalence rates among selected Southeast Asian
countries and Japan.
Age % Overweight % Obesity
Country Year Range M F M F
Indonesia - - - - - -
Japan 2001 15+ 26.8 20.7 2.9 3.3
Malaysia 1996 20+ 24.1 29.0 4.0 7.6
Philippines 1998 20+ 17.0 23.3 2.1 4.4
Thailand 1997 20+ 19.2 33.9 3.5 8.8
Table 3: The prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) and
the rates of change in adult obesity.
Country
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Year of
Survey
-
1976-80
2001
-
1993
1998
1991
1997
Age
Range
-
20+
15+
-
20+
20+
20+
20+
%
Obese
-
0.84
2.9
-
1.7
2.1
1.7
3.5
Males
Rate
Change
-
0.09
-
0.08
Trend
-
-
Trend
-
-
A detailed table of weight changes in the Japanese adult
population is presented in Tables 4 and 5. The table
also recorded the rate of change between 1984 until
2002. Figures 2 and 3 show the average weight changes
among Japanese males and females aged 26-70 years
old. (Health and Welfare, 2004)
A weight change in Japan is more prominent in the 18-
25 age categories for both males and females (Table 4).
In males the changes is highest in 24 year old group
with an increased of 5.1% in 2002. However, Japanese
females recorded increase changes in four age groups,
in 2002 weight changes were recorded in the 18 year
(2.4%), 19 year (3.7%), 21year (5.5%), and 25 year
(4.9%). Weight changes among the 26-70 year old cat-
Ref lections on the Human Condition: Change, Conflict and Modernity
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0.3
-
-
%
Obese
-
2.69
3.3
-
3.4
4.4
5.6
8.8
Females
Rate
Change
-
0.03
-
0.20
0.53
-