Urbanization and globalization may enhance access to non
traditional foods as a result of changing prices and production
practices, as well as trade and marketing practices. These
forces have influenced dietary patterns throughout the developing
world. Longitudinal case study data from China indicate that
consumption patterns closely reflect changes in availability,
and that potentially obesogenic dietary patterns are emerging,
with especially large changes in rural areas with high levels
of urban infrastructure and resources. Recent data on women
from 36 developing countries illustrate that these dietary
shifts may have implications for overweight/obesity in urban
and rural settings. These data emphasize the importance of
developing country policies that include preventive measures
to minimize further adverse shifts in diet and activity,
and risk of continued rises in overweight.
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