The Rise of “Lifestyle” Diseases in Developing Countries

Lifestyle diseases: A growing problem in developing markets

“Lifestyle” diseases refer to health problems such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol levels.

Diabetes prevalence soars even in low-income countries

The rate of diabetes prevalence for emerging and developing countries has been increasing and has already surpassed the rate in developed nations as a whole.

Alarming rise in obesity rates

More than two-thirds of the world’s obese population now lives in developing and emerging countries, while the trend is rising amidst higher consumption of convenience food and sugary drinks, and insufficient physical activity

High blood pressure is more common than in developed countries

High blood pressure is becoming more prevalent in developing countries than in developed nations, as consumers in high-income countries already actively implement prevention measures such as reducing their intake of salt and fat and pursuing healthier lifestyles.

Cholesterol levels increase fast due to dietary changes

The rate of raised cholesterol prevalence in emerging and developing economies is now catching up with that in developed countries, as dietary habits, particularly in developing cities, are turning towards higher consumption of meat, fast food and soft drinks.