An international study, led by Simon Fraser University health sciences professor Scott Lear, showed that the spread of obesity and type-2 diabetes increased as TVs, computers, and cars became more available in low-income countries. 

Published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the researchers analyzed data from more than 150,000 adults in 17 countries, ranging from high to low-income nations. The researchers surveyed participants about ownership of TVs, computers, and cars, as well as activity and diet. They found that among owners of TVs, cars and computers, there was a 400 percent increase in obesity and a 250 percent increase in diabetes among owners of these items in low-income countries.

Also, owning all three devices was linked to a 31 percent decrease in physical activity, a 21 percent increase in sitting and a 9 cm increase in waist size, compared with individuals who owned no devices. Fascinatingly, the team did not find this link in high-income countries, where they suggest the effects of owning such items has already occurred. They proposed that high-income countries already have high rates of these effects.

"With increasing uptake of modern-day conveniences-TVs, cars, computers-low- and middle-income countries could see the same obesity and diabetes rates as in high-income countries that are the result of too much sitting, less physical activity and increased consumption of calories," says Lear, who also holds the SFU Pfizer/Heart & Stroke Foundation Chair in Cardiovascular Prevention Research at St. Paul's Hospital.

Prof. Lear declares their results could lead to "potentially devastating societal health care consequences" in developing countries, where obesity and diabetes rates are projected to rise.

Additional Resource:

The association between ownership of common household devices and obesity and diabetes in high, middle and low income countries