Nature Medicine
- 12, 62 - 66 (2006)
Corrected online: 24 February 2006 | doi:10.1038/nm0106-62
There is a Corrigendum (March 2006) associated with this Special Feature: Commentary.
Epidemiologic and economic consequences of the global epidemics of obesity and diabetesDerek Yach1, David Stuckler1 & Kelly D Brownell21
Yale University School of Public Health, 309 Edwards Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
2
Yale University Department of Psychology and Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.
Correspondence should be addressed to Derek Yach Department of Global Health, 60 College Street, P.O. Box 208034. derek.yach@yale.edu. 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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