Obesity in the Pacific Islands: is it really all about genes and behaviour?

Authors: Lucrezia Caselli

Country: Italy

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/01/health/pacific-islands-obesity/index.html

SUMMARY

Pacific Islands’ countries have become among the most obese populations in the world. While the rates of lifestyle diseases skyrockets, experts still debate whether the problem is the result of a genetic predisposition or the westernisation of diet among pacific islanders. The exposure to western processed foods and the displacement of traditional plant-based diets may have unleashed the genetic propensity to store body fat, some suggest. On the other hand, others have questioned how mainstream nutrition has contributed to the displacement of traditional diets. As western medicine emphasises the importance of consuming protein and reducing the amount of carbohydrates, dumping of low-quality animal foods becomes institutionalised.

Pacific Islands Obesity

.pdf

Download PDF • 474KB