文档介绍：Double burden of malnutrition in developing countries 305
Trends towards overweight in lower-
and middle-e countries: some
causes and economic policy options
W. Bruce Traill1
ABSTRACT
Urbanization, globalization and economic development have led to dietary and lifestyle changes
that encourage the consumption of high-value foods, including processed foods and food
consumed outside the home. Together with reduced energy expenditure, this has resulted in
growing problems associated with overweight in developing and, particularly, middle-e
countries. One issue that has created interest but little analysis is the effect of changes in food
supply chains that have been associated with globalization and urbanization – most notably the
rapid diffusion of supermarkets in developing countries. There is little empirical evidence, but
the increased availability of time-saving convenience products and the reduction brought about
by supermarkets in the price of packaged groceries relative to fruit, vegetables and traditional
staples would account for some of the switch to a higher energy density of the food consumed.
The spread of panies is an inevitable part of economic development and, rather than set
up obstacles to their activities, it is sensible to develop policies that counter any harmful
consequences of their presence. In developed countries, such policies generally try to respect
individual freedom to make unhealthy as well as healthy choices (except possibly in the case of
children), but also recognize that reducing health inequalities and influencing social norms are
legitimate activities of government. A package of policy measures is necessary to achieve these
objectives; such a package may include information, munications, education,
advertising restrictions, taxes on unhealthy foods or ingredients (commonly known as “fat
taxes”) and subsidies on healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables (sometimes referred to as
“thi