Obesity in Developing Countries

Abstract: Formerly believed to be limited to abundant developed societies, obesity has recently become more widespread in developing countries, too. Obesity is closely related to different chronic diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular problems. Due to a weak health infrastructure in most poor countries, obesity can decrease life expectancy remarkably. This poses a challenge for many countries that have recently achieved some progress in increasing life expectancy by reducing child or maternal mortality. Not much is known yet about the nutrition transition in developing countries, and the role of food prices, opportunity costs of time, and other potential driving forces. In particular, we aim to address obesity from different angles: (i) what determines obesity in developing countries and in particular the frequently observed simultaneous incidence of overnourished and undernourished individuals in the same household, (ii) what are the costs of obesity in terms of disability- or quality-adjusted life years or foregone labor productivity and costs arising for the health system. The research involves econometric methods and health economics approaches that will utilize primary and secondary household data, suitable to analyze consumption behavior and the estimation of ‘obesity functions’.

Researchers involved: Matin Qaim, Cornelia Römling

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