Western Lifestyle Causes Asian Health Crisis
As Asian countries become more affluent and adopt Western consumerist behaviour, a new study has found their bodies are not coping with some Western foods like red meat, dairy and refined carbohydrates. The study discovered a three-fold increase in inflammatory bowel diseases in the last decade in Hong Kong. Dr Rupert Leong from the University of New South Wales headed the report, and explained how it was conducted. Meanwhile, Western diet and the increasing lack of exercise are not only causing bowel diseases in Asia, but a diabetes epidemic. Details of the diabetes threat were released this week at the 6th International Diabetes Federation Conference in Bangkok. Director of the International Diabetes Institute, Paul Zimmet, said the disease was a bigger threat to Asia than bird flu.