Contribution of nutrition to the health transition in developing countries: A framework for research and intervention

The major focus of public health programs in developing populations is alle viating undernutrition. In South Africa, however, as in many other developi ng countries, the African population is experiencing rapid urbanization cha racterized by a double burden of disease in which noncommunicable diseases (NCD) become more prevalent and infectious diseases remain undefeated. The possible mechanisms through which nutrition contributes to the additional v ulnerability to NCD experienced by developing populations are explored, and research priorities in this area are identified.