PHA-Exchange> Obesity Rising Among Women In Poor Countries, Study Says

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<jawad at alumni.washington.edu> -----

Obesity Rising Among Women In Poor Countries, Study Says
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http://www.unwire.org/UNWire/20040603/449_24503.asp

A new study shows obesity rates are rising in poor and develop-
ing countries, particularly among women, marking a major depar-
ture from historical trends and long-held beliefs, Reuters re-
ports.

The joint U.S.-Brazilian study included data from 37 countries
including Brazil, China and India.

"In many poorer nations, obesity has become more prevalent than
malnutrition," said Barry Popkin, a researcher at the University
of North Carolina. "Worldwide, the burden of obesity increas-
ingly rests on the poor and less educated, even in many develop-
ing nations we never thought of as having an obesity problem."

In the past, research has shown that obesity was mainly a prob-
lem in wealthy countries such as the United States, the United
Kingdom, Germany and Japan. In those countries, the poorer citi-
zens were typically heavier than the richer ones.

In developing countries, however, the opposite was true. There,
the poor could not afford enough food to get fat.

Popkin and other researchers at UNC collaborated with colleagues
from Brazil's University of Sao Paulo to analyze data from
nearly 149,000 women between the ages of 20 and 49.

Less work that requires physical exertion and lower food prices
are likely major factors in the rising obesity rates, Popkin
said. A lack of knowledge about health and the inability to buy
healthier, more expensive food may also be contributing to the
problem.

Obesity raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and
cancer.

The study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health
(Lisa Richwine, Reuters, June 3).


--
Dr Rana Jawad Asghar


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