The number of obese individuals in developing countries has shot up recently; and the numbers show us that the obesity epidemic has really gone global.
The obesity rate in developing countries has "ballooned" from 250 million to close to a billion, an Overseas Development Institute (ODI) news release reported.
"The growing rates of overweight and obesity in developing countries are alarming. On current trends, globally, we will see a huge increase in the number of people suffering certain types of cancer, diabetes, strokes and heart attacks, putting an enormous burden on public healthcare systems," ODI Research Fellow
Steve Wiggins said in the news release.
The report found that between the years of 1980 and 2008 the number of obese adults in the developing world more than tripled. The number rose by 200 million in rich countries.
In 2008 there were 904 million obese individuals in the developing world compared to 557 million in first world countries.
The growing problem has been largely ignored by the government due to "politicians' reluctance to interfere at the dinner table, the powerful influence of farming and food lobbies and a large gap in public awareness of what constitutes a healthy diet," the news release reported.
"Governments have focused on public awareness campaigns, but evidence shows this is not enough. The lack of action stands in stark contrast to the concerted public actions taken to limit smoking in developed countries. Politicians need to be less shy about trying to influence what food ends up on our plates. The challenge is to make healthy diets viable whilst reducing the appeal of foods which carry a less certain nutritional value," Wiggins said.
An increase in sugar consumption could be part of the problem. Between the years of 1961 and 2009 "sugar and sweetener consumption has risen by over a fifth per person globally."
Fat consumption is more common in industrialized countries. One out of every eight people in developing countries do not have access to enough food to satisfy their daily needs.
The report highlighted instances of governments successfully encouraging healthy eating.
For example, South Korea effectively increased fruit and vegetable consumption through "publicity, social marketing and education campaigns." Denmark banned trans-fatty acids in an effort to reduce the obeseity problem.
