Once about Knowledge and knowledge systems, especially knowledge applied to economic development, but since I retired branching into politics, music and whatever catches my attention.
The obesity problem sometimes seems to confuse the hunger problem. How can it be that in many countries the two problems co-exist (although the map does not highlight this)? I live in Colombia. Several months ago about 30 people died of starvation. And the country clearly has obesity problems. So, how would, say, the government prioritize health and food security interventions? What a world indeed!
Nice to hear from you Glenn. Many years ago I worked for the World Health Organization in Colombia.
My do-gooder instincts say that the government should give priority to the hungry, as the obese have the resources to take care of themselves. But that is the wrong answer.
The obese don't have the knowledge or understanding to take care of themselves properly. Modest expenditures on obesity education should more than pay for themselves through reduced costs of subsequent medical interventions and increased earnings of the beneficiaries of the education. That would free up still more resources to deal with hunger.
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The obesity problem sometimes seems to confuse the hunger problem. How can it be that in many countries the two problems co-exist (although the map does not highlight this)? I live in Colombia. Several months ago about 30 people died of starvation. And the country clearly has obesity problems. So, how would, say, the government prioritize health and food security interventions? What a world indeed!
Nice to hear from you Glenn. Many years ago I worked for the World Health Organization in Colombia.
My do-gooder instincts say that the government should give priority to the hungry, as the obese have the resources to take care of themselves. But that is the wrong answer.
The obese don't have the knowledge or understanding to take care of themselves properly. Modest expenditures on obesity education should more than pay for themselves through reduced costs of subsequent medical interventions and increased earnings of the beneficiaries of the education. That would free up still more resources to deal with hunger.
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