Obesity Epidemic and the Environment : Latin America and the Caribbean Region

Overweight and obesity are linked to higher premature deaths worldwide than the problem of underweight, meaning that more people are obese than underweight in the world-this occurs in every region except some parts of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia (WHO, 2020). In this context, there is a link between overweight and obesity and theincreased level of avoidable and preventable mortality because overweight and obesity are risk factors for several of the world’s leading causes of death, such as diabetes, several types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Obesity does not directly cause any of these health conditions, but it can increase their likelihood of occurring. Indeed, in 1990, the obesity problem was related to 2.16 million deaths worldwide and in 2017, reached a value of 4.72 million (see Fig. 1.1 below).For this reason, obesity is considered one of the world’s most significant health problems. It was considered a problem of high-income countries, but nowadays, it is an emerging and prevalent problem in low- and middle-income countries also, particularly in urban settings. In general, the increase of overweight and obesity problemsin low- and middle-income countries is related to economic development, globalisation and urbanisation, leading to significant changes in people’s diet and physical activity. The determinants for the overweight and obesity problem will be better explained in Chapter 2 of this book. Cover Obesity Epidemic and the Environment: Latin America and the Caribbean Region Copyright Biographies Matheus Koengkan José Alberto Fuinhas Aida Isabel Pereira Tavares Nuno Miguel Barateiro Gonçalves Silva 1. Context of the obesity problem in the Latin American region 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Share of overweight adults in the LA region 1.3 Share of obese adults in the LA region 1.4 Share of overweight or obese children in the LA region 1.5 Conclusions References 2. Determinants of obesity in the Latin America and Caribbean region 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Conceptual model for the determinants of obesity 2.2.1 Health and physical activity 2.2.2 Individual effects 2.2.2.1 Low birthweight and child malnutrition 2.2.2.2 Education and income 2.2.3 Neighbourhood effects: social, economic and built environment 2.2.4 Technology effects 2.2.4.1 Transport 2.2.4.2 Other technological improvements 2.2.4.2.1 Home appliances 2.2.4.2.2 Air conditioning, elevators, television, video games and internet 2.2.4.3 Other macro-determinants 2.3 The nutrition transition 2.4 Conclusions References 3. Interactions between obesity, economic growth, globalisation, urbanisation and poverty in Latin American and Caribbean coun ... 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Literature review 3.2.1 Obesity and economic growth 3.2.2 Obesity and urbanisation 3.2.3 Obesity and poverty 3.2.4 Obesity and globalisation 3.3 Data and methods 3.3.1 Data 3.3.2 Method 3.4 Empirical results 3.5 Discussion 3.6 Conclusion References 4. The effect of the urbanisation process on body mass index in Latin American and Caribbean countries 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Method and data 4.2.1 Method 4.2.2 Data 4.3 Empirical results and discussion 4.4 Conclusion References 5. Impact of the obesity epidemic on economic growth in Latin American and Caribbean countries 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Literature review 5.2.1 Economic growth and obesity 5.2.2 Economic growth and globalisation 5.2.3 Economic growth and food production 5.2.4 Economic growth and renewable energy production 5.3 Data and method 5.3.1 Data 5.3.2 Method 5.4 Empirical results 5.5 Discussion 5.6 Conclusion References 6. Environmental degradation in the Latin American and Caribbean region 6.1 Introduction 6.2 The environmental performance index 6.2.1 Climate change 6.3 Air pollution and health 6.4 Freshwater resources 6.5 Circular economy, waste and materials 6.6 Biological resources and biodiversity 6.7 Conclusion References 7. Causes of environmental degradation in the Latin American and Caribbean region 7.1 Introduction 7.1.1 Total CO2 emissions 7.1.2 CO2 emissions per capita 7.1.3 Total methane, nitrous oxide and greenhouse gas emissions 7.1.4 Methane, nitrous oxide and greenhouse gas emissions per capita 7.1.5 PM2.5 air pollution by region 7.2 Gas emissions and their determinants 7.2.1 Carbon dioxide emissions 7.2.2 Nitrous oxide emissions 7.2.3 Methane emissions 7.2.4 Greenhouse gas emissions 7.2.5 Variables with explanatory power for gas emissions 7.2.5.1 Gross domestic product 7.2.5.2 Consumption of energy 7.2.5.3 Urbanisation 7.2.5.4 Globalisation 7.2.5.5 Economic complexity 7.2.5.6 Population growth 7.3 Data and method 7.3.1 Data 7.3.2 Method 7.4 Empirical results 7.4.1 Short-run analysis 7.4.2 Long-run analysis 7.5 Discussion 7.6 Conclusion Appendix References References 8. The consequences of the obesity epidemic on food production: empirical evidence from Latin American and Caribbean countries 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Literature review 8.2.1 Obesity and food production 8.2.2 Economic growth and food production 8.2.3 Poverty and food production 8.3 Data and method 8.3.1 Data 8.3.2 Method 8.4 Empirical results 8.5 Discussion 8.6 Conclusion References 9. Does the obesity epidemic increase the consumption of fossil fuels in Latin America and Caribbean countries? 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Literature review 9.2.1 Obesity and fossil fuel consumption 9.2.2 Economic growth and fossil fuel consumption 9.2.3 Food production and fossil fuel consumption 9.2.4 Renewable energy and fossil fuel consumption 9.3 Data and methods 9.3.1 Data 9.3.2 Method 9.4 Empirical results 9.5 Discussion 9.6 Conclusion References 10. The increase of CO2 emissions by obesity epidemic in Latin American and Caribbean countries 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Literature review 10.2.1 Obesity 10.2.2 Economic growth 10.2.3 Fossil fuel 10.2.4 Renewable energy 10.2.5 Land use 10.2.6 Food production 10.3 Data and method 10.3.1 Data 10.3.2 Method 10.4 Empirical results 10.5 Discussion 10.6 Conclusion References Index A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W Obesity Epidemic and the Environment: Latin America and the Caribbean Region provides a broad analysis of the macroeconomic impact of the obesity epidemic on environmental degradation in the LAC region. Case studies combine theory and practice to achieve critical conclusions (and subsequent policy implications), providing useful tools for those working on actual health, energy and environmental challenges. Written for researchers, policymakers, international organizations and practitioners in various fields, especially those in public health, health economics, energy and environmental economics and social sciences, this book thoroughly highlights the obesity epidemic in this region. In the LAC region, obesity has become a public health issue. The increase of this problem is related to the economic gains obtained from the process of liberalization and privatization, the increase of foreign investment, and infrastructure investments. Analyzes the macroeconomic impact of the obesity epidemic in the Latin America and Caribbean region Examines the effect of environmental degradation (CO2 emissions) and the contribution it plays Develops working tools for the reader to access econometric techniques to grasp empirical approaches on health, energy and environmental economics