PHNOM PENH, July 26, 2024 — A recent United Nations report on food security and nutrition has indicated a significant increase in adult obesity rates in Cambodia and Vietnam, marking them as the fastest-growing in the ASEAN region from 2012 to 2022.
Despite having the lowest obesity rates in ASEAN, Cambodia’s adult obesity prevalence has surged from 2.2 percent to 4.4 percent over the decade. Vietnam has witnessed an even more rapid increase, from 0.8 percent to 2.0 percent, according to the report released in Brazil this Wednesday.
The report, which includes data from five UN agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, points to a broader global trend where less developed countries (LDCs) like Laos and Myanmar also saw significant increases in obesity. In Laos, obesity among adults rose from 4.7 percent to 8.0 percent, and in Myanmar from 5.7 percent to 8.7 percent.
Global Concerns Over Rising Obesity:
The "State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World" report describes a concerning rise in obesity across LDCs, which continues to coexist with persistent undernutrition, highlighting the urgency of addressing these nutritional challenges as a global development priority.
The Double Burden of Malnutrition:
Globally, adult obesity has increased from 12.1 percent to 15.8 percent, contributing to the so-called "double burden of malnutrition," which refers to the coexistence of undernutrition along with overweight and obesity issues. This trend has been increasing for two decades, complicating public health challenges across all age groups.
Transitions in Diet and Disease:
The report links people’s rising affluence in developing economies to a "nutrition transition" from staple diets to higher consumption of processed foods rich in fats, sugars, and salts. This shift is often tied to globalization, rapid urbanization, and more sedentary lifestyles.
Following the nutritional changes, countries face an "epidemiological transition," where the burden of disease moves from infectious to non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. This shift accompanies a "demographic transition" characterized by older population profiles and increased non-communicable disease risks.
Policymaking Challenges:
These transitions are occurring at unprecedented rates, presenting new challenges for policymakers to simultaneously tackle issues of malnutrition and chronic diseases, which have significant health and economic repercussions.
Among other ASEAN nations, Brunei recorded the highest adult obesity rate at 31.7 percent in 2022, followed by Malaysia and Thailand. These figures reflect a rising trend across the region, emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies to address the health impacts of dietary and lifestyle changes.
Malnutrition Defined:
The report concludes by defining malnutrition broadly, encompassing both undernutrition and conditions related to being overweight or obese, and stresses the need for global efforts to address these pervasive health issues.
