A socioeconomic analysis of obesity and intra-household nutrional inequality in Indonesia

While underweight has always been a challenge in developing countries, many poorer countries are today increasingly affected by overweight and obesity. Leading causes for this development are changes in food consumption and lifestyle patterns. Consumption patterns change from traditional diets to diets high in fats and sugar. Meat and dairy products are increasingly consumed. In addition, the availability of processed meals from newly emerging supermarkets and eating out also change diets. Moreover, other parts of life undergo transition processes with increasing income and urbanization. While work becomes more sedentary, life gets more comfortable with appliances as helping hands in households and increased motorized transportation. Leisure time is spent to a greater extent with television, internet and video games, even in poorer households. In the developed world, these aspects have been part of the normal way of life for years ...