Perceptions of Obesity and Diabetes in Societies in Transition

Societies such as Pakistan are changing rapidly in terms of their diet and energy expenditure. For a significant proportion of the population this is translating into an epidemic of obesity and its subsequent medical complications such as diabetes. Preventive public health programs need to target the most vulnerable population subgroups and educate them regarding healthy eating and adequate exercise. Attempts to do so may be frustrated by the fact that traditional societies have a body image that idealizes the obese body form. Explanatory models of illness do not agree with allopathic approaches to treating obesity and diabetes. These belief systems need to be understood and incorporated into holistic and comprehensive public health programs and policies.