As seen from national levels: Developing world

Abstract

The grim.realities involved with the solution of such world problems as .' food, energy and pollution make it difficult to address such issues with 'vhptimism (Meadows et al. 1972; Mesarovic and Peste! 1974). On the other hand, these challenges to man's survival stimulate the search for explanations. causes and corrective strategies. The evolution of nutritional concepts over the past twenty years demonstates that well-established principles have broken down while unorthodox ideas have been embraced with almost religious fervor. Until recently. malnutrition was thought to be caused solely by a lack of food; to cure it, one merely provided additional foodstuffs. In the past, the emphasis was on protein, with little regard for calories. It was also believed that some kind of development was needed to improve the quality of life; more often than not, this meant industrialization. We now know that culture plays a decisive role in the appearance of malnutrition, whatever the society. We shall attempt to describe the cultural and biological changes which have affected health and nutrition, using concepts and examples which can be applied to the inhabitants of the Americas (particularly those living in tropical and subtropical regions). Our emphasis will be on the evolution of our own country, Costa Rica.