The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and study the associated factors in a rural population in Goa, India.

Diet-related illnesses are some of the biggest killers today. Can we tailor our food intake to prevent these diseases? Large international projects are underway to find out.

The obesity epidemic is spreading to low-income and middle-income countries as a result of new dietary habits and sedentary ways of life, fuelling chronic diseases and premature mortality. In this report we present an assessment of public health strategies designed to tackle behavioural risk factors for chronic diseases that are closely linked with obesity, including aspects of diet and physical inactivity, in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa.

Transition to diets that are high in saturated fat and sugar has caused a global public health concern, as the pattern of food consumption is a major modifiable risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases.

Country-dwellers miss out on the bustle and bright lights

Epidemiological transition is a process whereby the predominant causes of death shift from communicable/parasitic diseases to non-communicable diseases. A study of the Medical Certification of Cause of Death in Maharashtra shows that the share of communicable diseases has gone down only slightly while diseases of the circulatory system, neoplasm and injuries have increased significantly.

The government acknowledges that non-communicable diseases are on the rise in India and need attention. (Editorial)

Replacing traditional foods with imported, processed food has contributed to the high prevalence of obesity and related health problems in the Pacific islands.