The Double Burden of Malnutrition in Asia: A Phenomenon Not to be Dismissed

Abstract

Developing countries around the world – including those in Asia – are in a state of rapid economic transition as a result of generally improving incomes, increasing industrialization, urbanization, and globalization. This state has given rise to changing lifestyle and diets, from one with high level of physical activity and diets based mostly on plant foods, to one with a higher level of sedentariness, and a diet of increasing energy density, fat and animal foods and less plant foods – a state of nutrition transition.1 This in turn has led to an increase in overweight and obesity especially in adults, and a consequent rise in chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and other so-called “diseases of affluence.”