Ideas for Developing Asia and the Pacific

Overweight and Obesity

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In recent years, Asia has not only recorded high rates of economic growth but also of accelerating prevalence of overweight and obesity, which are important risk factors for various chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers. This project aims to better understand the determinants of the growth of overweight and obesity in Asia and the Pacific and to estimate their costs for health systems and the economy.


2 February 2018 The Economic Burden of Overweight and Obesity Reaches 3% of GDP in Indonesia - Asia Pathways

Overweight and obesity are on the rise in Indonesia. The results of the Basic Health Survey, a national, community-based survey that measures body mass index (BMI), for 2007, 2010, and 2013 show the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in Indonesia.

10 August 2017 Obesity in Pacific Island countries and territories: How big a problem is it? - Asia Pathways

The Pacific Island region is made up of 22 island countries and the territories of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. There is great cultural diversity in the region, with about 1,200 languages spoken and a variety of exotic cultures. Surrounded by the vast Pacific Ocean, the land mass of the countries varies considerably.

7 August 2017 Devastating cost of obesity - China Daily

With Asia’s growth averaging more than 6 percent since the start of the millennium, the region’s income per capita was almost three times higher in 2015 than it was in 2000. Poverty has plunged, and so too have deaths from communicable diseases thanks to the wider use of vaccines and better sanitation.

26 April 2017 Economic impacts of obesity in the Republic of Korea - Asia Pathways

Obesity is a state of excessive body fat accumulation and is difficult to measure. Body mass index (BMI)—defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters—has been used traditionally for its simplicity and the availability of data.

28 October 2016 The cost of being obese - Asia Pathways

When we talk about the cost of being obese, many people will imagine the personal spending due to obesity, e.g. special clothing, housing, and transportation that may be different from the requirements of non-obese people, or even the medical expenses arising from obesity-related illnesses.

22 March 2016 Rapid growth of overweight and obesity in Indonesia: Increasing risk for the poor - Asia Pathways

New ADBI research (Aizawa and Helble, forthcoming) studies how overweight and obesity have become major threats to public health in Indonesia. The evidence shows that obesity, which was previously a problem among high-income groups in the country, has spread across all income groups.

25 September 2017 Obesity and overweight cost about US$166 billion in Asia and the Pacific - Asia's Developing Future

Obesity and overweight are among the main risk factors of noncommunicable diseases that kill millions of people worldwide. How much do these diseases cost health systems and economies?

4 September 2017 The sharp rise in overweight and obesity in Asia and the Pacific threatens their prosperity - Asia's Developing Future

Obesity has reached world-wide epidemic proportions. Overweight and obesity weaken the body, hamper lower-body mobility, and impede daily activities. In older people, they cause physical dysfunction and increase the risk of disability. Overweight and obesity also raise the risks for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers.