Abstract

This article reviews the evidence of nutrition transition in last several decades and its consequences related to Pakistan which is a lower middle-income country of South Asia. In Pakistan the dual burden of disease and dual burden of malnutrition (over and under nutrition) are generally seen in national surveys or either both exists at even in same household. The main determinants of this nutrition transition paradox are rapid shift in income, mode of working, purchasing power, availability and desirability of low-quality food that mismatch our biology that is being established over the past millions of years with the evolution of human on this earth. The comparison or Paleolithic, Asian specific and today’s modern (western) diet is also evident of this intricate transition. The latest facts and figures on dietary intake of fruits, vegetables, types of fats consumed, BMI (body mass index) and level of activity from a national survey is being analyzed in this article. As the Asians are at greater risk of chronic diseases than Caucasians, Pakistan need to struggle hard for solving this nutrition transition paradox situation and its long term health implications by planning effectively in nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive areas in the country.