Obesity and Malnutrition
exists side-by-side
Aug 04, 2005
While nutritional status has improved worldwide over
the past fifty years, new nutrition-related problems
have also emerged. In an article recently published
in The Journal of Nutrition, Eileen Kennedy DSc, RD,
dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and
Policy at Tufts University, offers an updated view of
global nutrition. She describes how global demographic,
epidemiological, and nutritional transitions have led
to a unique situation in which food insecurity (uncertain
or scarce access to safe and healthy food) exists side
by side with problems of obesity and chronic nutrition-related
diseases, even in the same household. Kennedy, former
acting undersecretary at the United States Department
of Agriculture, calls for new research to address this
emerging and complex new problem.
"A global nutrition transition has and is occurring
on a continuum. While problems of under-consumption
and poor nutritional status continue to exist, increasingly
problems of diet/chronic diseases are emerging as significant
public health issues globally," says Kennedy. A
demographic shift has resulted in increased life expectancy
in many countries, and in some countries, this means
an older population. Closely tied with this change in
age structure is an epidemiological shift which has
decreased communicable diseases and increased chronic
diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, she reports.
"An increase in availability of more high-fat
and sugar-laden foods has led to a surge of nutrition-related
chronic diseases around the world. At the same time
that diets have changed, physical activity has decreased.
The highest rates of overweight and obesity
are now often found in low-income groups. Many populations
have been left in the midst of an obesity crisis that
exists with food insecurity and under-nutrition,"
Kennedy summarizes. "Chronic diseases can no longer
be labeled as 'diseases of affluence.' Unfortunately,
the message that the global nutrition profile is changing
hasn't reached policy makers, and they need to be aware
that it is occurring."
In a separate article published in the May 2005 American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Kennedy and co-author
Linda Meyers, PhD, Director of the Food and Nutrition
Board, Institute of Medicine, note that large parts
of the developing world are plagued with micronutrient
deficiencies. "Deficiencies of micronutrients,
such as iron, iodine, zinc and vitamin A, contribute
to 'hidden hunger' and while the statistics on micronutrient
status for women in developing countries are scarce,"
she says, "it is clear that a large percentage
of women from developing countries suffer negative health
and nutrition consequences."
The real challenge, Kennedy says, will be to identify
new ways of dealing with the new nutrition realities
of diet-related chronic diseases while also addressing
under-nutrition,
food insecurity and hunger. Investment in applied nutrition
research will be essential in creating and promoting
healthy lifestyle initiatives.
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
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