Skip to main content

Obesity: gender differences in developed and developing countries


Obesity is increasing across the globe and no country has managed to solve the problem. BBC News (May 29, 2014) reported on a global obesity study published in Lancet, in which researchers stated that the number of obese or overweight people rose from 875 million in 1980 to 2.1 billion in 2013.

From the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in Washington DC, researchers from a cross-section of countries conducted a comprehensive study analyzing data from 1,769 publications and surveys, collecting data on age, sex, country, and year. Ranked in order, 671 million (more than half) of the world’s 2.1 billion obese people live in the following 10 countries: (1) United States of America, (2) China, (3) India, (4) Russia, (5) Brazil, (6) Mexico, (7) Egypt, (8) Germany, (9) Pakistan, and (10) Indonesia.

Worldwide, said the IHME report, the proportion of adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 or greater increased from 28.8% in 1980 to 36.9% in 2013 in men, and from 29.8% in 1980 to 38.0% in 2013 in women. The estimated prevalence of adult obesity exceeded 50% in men from Tonga, and exceeded 50% in women from Kuwait, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Libya, Qatar, Tonga, and Samoa.

Developing and Developed Countries
Since 2006, the increase in adult obesity in developed countries slowed down – in other words, it is still increasing, but at a slower rate than before 2006. The IHME study noted that child obesity increased substantially in developed countries with 23.8% of boys and 22.6% of girls overweight or obese in 2013. The prevalence also increased in developing countries with 12.9% of boys and 13.4% of girls overweight or obese in 2013.

Gender Differences
The study reported more obese women than men in developing countries. However, more obese men than women lived in developed countries.

Causes
The report stated that risk factors for obesity included excessive calorie intake, inactivity, and “active promotion of food consumption by industry.” In addition, “classical eating” habits had been replaced with “uncontrolled food intake” spread over the course of a day.
Implications

In 2010 overweight and obesity were estimated to cause 3.4 million deaths, 3.9% of years of life lost per individual, and 3.8% of disability-adjusted life-years worldwide. The researchers call for regular monitoring of changes in overweight and obesity prevalence in all populations worldwide with comparable, up-to-date information about levels and trends. This would enable the quantification of health effects on the population and to prompt decision-makers to take action.


Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980—2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013, The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 29 May 2014   doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60460-8

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)60460-8/abstract

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh  (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...
1 comment
Read more

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...
2 comments
Read more