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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2008; 116: S30-S32
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1081485
Review

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Is the Worldwide Epidemic of Obesity a Communicable Feature of Globalization?

S. R. Bornstein 1 , M. Ehrhart-Bornstein 1 , M. L. Wong 2 , J. Licinio 2
  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
  • 2Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
Further Information

Publication History

received 08.04.2008

accepted 14.05.2008

Publication Date:
05 September 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Globalization has a major impact on both economic and social determinants in public health. The current worldwide epidemic in obesity needs to be considered in the context of globalization as a communicable rather than non-communicable process. There is increasing evidence that global trends in lifestyle, eating behavior and cultural adaptation contribute to the rapid increase in obesity around the world. Thus, obesity may be defined as a “socially-contagious” feature of globalization. Furthermore, infectious agents are being identified that may cause obesity by central mechanisms or by modulating adipocyte function or at least by contributing to the chronic inflammatory milieu of the metabolic syndrome. Therefore, globalization may indeed form a critical platform for these pathogens to fuel the obesity epidemic. Understanding obesity in the light of globalization as a communicable disorder will allow outlining better avenues of prevention and treatment.

Key words

obesity - globalization - infectious diseases

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Correspondence

Prof. S. R. Bornstein

Department of Medicine

University of Dresden

Fetscherstraße 74

01307 Dresden

Germany

Phone: +49/351/458 59 55

Fax: +49/351/458 63 98

Email: Stefan.Bornstein@uniklinikum-dresden.de

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