Wealthy But Unhealthy (Paperback)  | Released: 11 Sep 2018

Asia and the Pacific have recently recorded high rates of not only economic growth but also overweight and obesity, which are important risk factors for diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancer. Both conditions reduce productivity and thus have a direct impact on economies. Both conditions are also typically chronic and often require lifelong treatment, which burdens households and governments. This book (i) summarizes the knowledge on overweight and obesity in the region; (ii) presents the main determinants of overweight and obesity across countries; (iii) evaluates the economic costs of overweight and obesity, including the negative impact on productivity and higher probability of premature death; and (iv) recommends ways to lower the incidence of overweight based on market and nonmarket-based instruments.About the Author: Matthias Helble is a senior economist and co-chair, Research, at the Asian Development Bank Institute. Azusa Sato is a health specialist in the South East Asia Regional Department at the Asian Development Bank, Manila.