Overweight and obesity, the main drivers of type 2 diabetes, have long been regarded as health risks associated with affluence. Over the last decade, profound changes in the quality, quantity and source of food consumed in many developing countries, combined with a decrease in levels of physical activity among the population, have led to an increase in the prevalence of diabetes and its complications. Here, we present quantitative estimates of the epidemiological and economic impact of obesity and diabetes on developing countries. We provide the economic rationale for public policy action. We stress the importance of creating a roadmap to guide the development of comprehensive policies involving governments and private companies, and emphasize the need for experimentation in building the evidence while testing theories.
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Change history
24 February 2006
In the version of this article initially published, some information about sources was omitted. The citation of the data source for Table 1 should have included a reference to the World Health Organization SuRF 2 Report for the country estimates and the World Health Organization Global InfoBase for Global/Income group estimates. Figures 1 and 2 should have included a reference to Wild et al. (Diabetes Care 27, 1047–1053; 2004). This error has been corrected in the PDF version of the article.
Notes
Note: In the version of this article initially published, some information about sources was omitted. The citation of the data source for Table 1 should have included a reference to the World Health Organization SuRF 2 Report for the country estimates and the World Health Organization Global InfoBase for Global/Income group estimates. Figures 1 and 2 should have included a reference to Wild et al. (Diabetes Care 27, 1047–1053; 2004). This error has been corrected in the PDF version of the article.
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Yach, D., Stuckler, D. & Brownell, K. Epidemiologic and economic consequences of the global epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Nat Med 12, 62–66 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0106-62
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0106-62
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