eoin parker gctofuidgmgmailcom thrifty genes blamed obesity rivals hunger microscope overweight people hungry people rapidly developing countries rather surprising fact reported barry popkin september 2007 issue scientific american writes prof william reville consequence obesity serious health risk hunger nations traditionally undernutrition serious health risk countries dramatic change driven globalisation occurred past 20 years popkin reports countries egypt south africa mexico half adults either overweight obese weight categories defined body mass index bmi bmi calculated body weight kilos divided square height metres bmi 25 29 defined overweight bmi 30 obese criteria strict lower limits example someone bmi 26 scarcely look overweight obesity statistics quoted may quite alarming seem nevertheless clear serious problem exists growing obesity correlates diabetes heart disease illnesses public health crisis threatened economies popkin homes mexico specific example fewer 10 per cent mexicans overweight 1989 surveys 2006 showed 71 per cent mexican women 66 per cent men overweight obese figures rival figures us 1989 diabetes rare mexico today almost one seventh population suffers adultonset type two diabetes diabetes spreading fast past 20 years living styles changed dramatically countries india mexico china philippines supermarket chains spread regions average incomes rise poorer people adopted dietary exercise habits lead obesity consuming sugary soft drinks foods watching tv riding motorbikes instead walking buying convenient processed foods supermarkets people consuming much energydense food vegetable oils food derived animals meat fish eggs dairy products combination sedentary lifestyle highcalorie food intake precipitated obesity problem concentrated poorest sections societies access education would promote healthy eating exercise severely limited popkin describes interesting hypothesis obese people countries may susceptible developing diabetes high blood pressure obese people developed world argument populations latin america africa south east asia carry disproportionate number thrifty genes evolution selected order help survival famines enabling people store fat efficiently times plenty unfortunately high calorie food becomes freely available person genes efficiently accumulates fat around heart liver increasing risk diabetes heart disease popkin reports nearly one third people china obesity sharply increasing suffer high blood pressure people regions rapidly switching traditional lowfat highfibre diets calorierich fats sweeteners refined carbohydrates one biggest contributors obesity sweetened beverage evolutionary history weaning beverages took breast milk water water calories never evolved mechanisms automatically reduce food intake compensate beverage consumption 50 years ago average proportion dietary calories contributed beverages small longer case sugary soft drinks spread everywhere earth average mexican consumes soft drinks average us citizen key contributors obesity energydense foods vegetable oils meat fish eggs milk technological advances government subsidies production oilseeds made vegetable oils cheap growth world production meat fish dairy produce come nations injecting excessive amounts saturated fat average diet thereby greatly increasing risk cardiovascular disease globalisation means free movement capital technology goods services around world main driver changes diet lifestyle described article course globalisation also confers benefits many countries encouragement trade introduction technology improvement employment unfortunately many negative effects obesity problems described article remedial measures must put place reverse negative effects unless strong preventive policies implemented medical costs obesityrelated illness could topple economies china india rapidly developing countries china already spends six per cent gdp nutritionrelated chronic diseases popkin suggests restructuring huge agricultural subsidies encourage production meat dairy products thereby encouraging farmers grow fruit vegetables new policies also promote consumption whole grains enhanced fibre vitamins minerals opposed refined carbohydrates taxes imposed caloric sweeteners order discourage consumption wed 06 aug 2008 182938 0100 ierant surprising obesity bigger problem hunger 3rd world countries