Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 2: 64 - 66. Published February 2008.
Perspectives on obesity, health and nutrition in developing countries
Sarah M. Maina and Mwangi M.
*Biosciences Communications Unit, F.A.C.T. P.O. Box 967 Post Code 00217 Kenya
1Corresponding author email: sarah@elewa.org; Tel. +254.710.873.341.
ABSTRACT
As literacy levels increase around the world communities become more conscious of their health status as affected by food uptake, working habits and other lifestyle aspects. Obesity is a disease of complex, multiple causes leading to an imbalance between energy intake and output and to the accumulation of large amounts of body fat (Reynaldo, 2001). In a simple sense, obesity can be assessed by comparing weight to height of an individual. More specifically, the condition can be parametrically measured using the body mass index (BMI), considering weight in kilograms (kg) over height squared (m2). By this scale the World Health Organization (WHO) describes individuals with between 25 - 29.9 kg/m2 as overweight, while those with a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 are obese. As nations and their citizens prosper in more regions globally, the number of overweight or obese people has been noted to be on the increase. The affected individuals are not only likely to be less productive; they also add a strain on public health resources, since a majority needs some kind of medical attention.
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