title: Is obesity an ineluctable consequence of development? A case study of Malaysia.
abstract: Effective population-level solutions to the obesity pandemic have proved elusive. In low- and middle-income countries the problem may be further challenged by the perceived internal tension between economic development and sustainable solutions which create the optimal conditions for human health and well-being. This paper discusses some of the ecological obstacles to addressing the growing problem of obesity in 'aspiring' economies, using Malaysia as a case study. The authors conclude that current measures to stimulate economic growth in Malaysia may actually be exacerbating the problem of obesity in that country. Public health solutions which address the wider context in which obesity exists are needed to change the course of this burgeoning problem.
authors.affiliation: Global Public Health and South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Malaysia. Electronic address: tamzyn.davey@monash.edu.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allotey
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Reidpath
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Developing nations; Ecological Public Health; Obesity