Processed foods and soft drinks push up Asian salt, fat and sugar

Developing countries in Asia may be set to join the first-world obesity epidemic, a new ANU study of nutrition across 12 countries has found. "We have shown that countries across Asia are on a steep upward trajectory towards diets high in fat, salt and sugar," said lead author Dr Phillip Baker from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health. "This has major implications for health systems in these countries." The study, published in the journal Obesity Reviews, found that throughout Asia baked goods, vegetable oils and soft drinks were the main carriers of fat, salt and sugar, which are likely to be important drivers of obesity, diabetes and heart disease in the region. The findings show developing nations in Asia face a potential rise in obesity, which could have implications for their health budgets. Of particular concern are India, China, Malaysia and Thailand where the prevalence of type-2 diabetes has rapidly increased in the urban centres. The detailed study uncovered differences amongst 12 Asian countries of different income levels. For example, upper-middle income populations such as Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia are consuming sugary drinks and vegetable oils at much higher levels than high-income countries like Japan and South Korea, where consumption has slowed.