Malnutrition And Obesity In Developed Countries

Malnutrition & Obesity In Developed Countries

Introduction

There is a growing trend toward the paradoxical co-occurrence of under- and over-nutrition in rapidly developing and undeveloped economies, which nutritional experts call the "double-burden,". However the improvement is not evenly distributed. The poor still face grave nutritional problems, especially in remote areas.

As reported in Global News, obesity, along with HIV Aids and malnutrition, are prevalent in Africa. According to the survey results printed, in South Africa, one in every three adult men and more than one in every two adult women are overweight and obese. Forty percent of the Moroccan population is overweight. Ethiopians face malnutrition and hunger while their neighbors suffer the health risks associated with obesity. Due to economic constraints, the people of Africa lack enough food to meet their nutritional needs. The quality of food intake is adjusted when faced with food insecurity. Thus, food insecurity is just as likely to cause people to be overweight as it is to cause hunger, both resulting in malnutrition. The hidden crisis in Africa suggests food scarcity is the underlying cause of both obesity and hunger.

People in Ethiopia usually only eat one or two meals a day. The meals that they get typically do not include any meat for economic reasons, but also for religious reasons. If they were to go to the market and buy a chicken it would cost a whole day's pay. If the family works in agriculture, the family may get more food compared to a family who lives and works in the city and must purchase all their food. Known as the land of grain and honey, most agricultural farmers live off the land. In the city, women in the family usually work as servants or other menial jobs.

The height and weight of rural children are lower compared to their urban counterparts, reflecting inadequate diet and poor health care. Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron deficiency anemia is common among women and children.

While problems of undernutrition have not yet been fully eliminated in rural areas, over-nutrition and obesity associated with chronic diseases is emerging as a major public health problem in the urban population.

Increasing levels of income are associated with changes in dietary patterns and lifestyles with lower physical activity. Current diets in urban areas approximate the western diet, which is high in fat and low in fiber.

These changes coupled with reduced physical activity lead to obesity. (Swinburn 2004)

"Thus, fast developing countries such as China and India are facing the double burden of malnutrition -- on the one hand, there is undernutrition among the rural poor, and on the other, there is rising prevalence of obesity and chronic diseases among the urban population," said Reddy, who is a visiting professor at the Johns Hopkins University, and serves as nutrition consultant to various international agencies such as the WHO and the UNICEF. (Siervo 2005)

While it is true that rapid economic development is associated with rapid escalation of obesity and chronic diseases as in developed nations, this is not ...