Vector Issue 10 - 2009

Right: Influences on the energy equation in
developing countries (3). Below and facing
page: One can appreciate the irony in all this
when you see both the malnourished and
obese side by side in a Gambian hospital (2).
in less developed countries due to lack of
education and understanding, as well as
the age-old problem of resource insufficiency.
In sub-Saharan Africa case-specific
mortality rates for diabetes are more
than 10 times higher than in the UK (2).
The WHO indicates that globally,
greater than 75 percent of women over
the age of 30 are now overweight (1).
Estimates are similar for men. In the
Pacific islands of Nauru and Tonga nine
out of every 10 adults are overweight
(1). Obesity is even spreading rapidly
through many an African countryside,
along with its bevy of chronic disease
burden which is both devastating and
costly (2). Indeed, the existence of
obesity and malnourishment within the
one community presents an unintelligible
paradox (see figure 1) (3).
The increase in obesity in developing
nations is due to ‘a global shift
in diet towards increased energy, fat,
salt and sugar intake, and a trend
towards decreased physical activity
due to the sedentary nature of
modern work and transportation, and
increasing urbanisation.’ (1) The developing
world is now more than ever a
target of many food companies and less
developed countries present the largest
growth markets for soft drink producers
(4). Even where the Global Financial
Crisis has tainted the US and European
markets, consumption of soft drinks
has increased in countries as diverse as
Mexico, Egypt and China, encouraged
by aggressive marketing campaigns,
often aimed at children and youth (4).
It is estimated that by 2015, 1.5
billion individuals globally will be
overweight (1). At this point, non-communicable
diseases associated with the
overweight and obese will surpass malnutrition
as the leading cause of death in
low-income communities (5). The contribution
of chronic disease on the health
status of the global community may paint
a bleak picture, but it is our responsibility
to take action to combat it. And where
obesity is such a paradox to concurrent
poverty, malnutrition, environmental
instability and development, this responsibility
becomes even more urgent.
1.Anon. The World Health Organization warns of
the rising threat of heart disease and stroke as overweight
and obesity rapidly increase. (Media release).
Geneva: September 22 2005. Article retrieved online
on September 17 2009 from, http://www.who.int/
mediacentre/news/releases/2005/pr44/en/
2.Prentice A and Webb F. Obesity admist poverty.
Int J Epidemiology. 2006; 35:24-30
3.Witkowski TH. Food Marketing and obesity
in developing countries: analysis, ethics and public
policy. J Macromarketing. 2007; 27(2):126-137
4.Anon. Soft drinks and obesity: global threats
to diet and health. (online article). Retrieved online
on September 17 2009 from, http://www.dumpsoda.
org/health.pdf
5.Tanumihardjo SA, Anderson C, Kaufer-Horwitz
M, Bode L, Emenaker NJ, Haqq AM, Satia JA, Silver
HJ and Stadler DD. Poverty, obesity and malnutrition:
an international perspective recognising the paradox.
J Amer Dietetic Assoc. 2007; 107(11):1966-1972
november 2009 vector7
www.ghn.amsa.org.au