Why do high-income countries have a greater rate of diabetes?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To analyze why high-income countries have a greater rate of diabetes, I will evaluate each option in turn with reasoning.
Option 1: Genetic predisposition. It is true that genetics can influence diabetes risk, but this option alone does not explain why rates are higher specifically in high-income countries. Genetic predisposition is relatively constant across populations and does not account for the cross-country differences in diabetes prevalence driven by environmental and lifestyle factors. So while genetics contribute, this option does not capture the main modern drivers in high-income settings.
Option 2: Easily accessible ultra-processed foods at low prices. This is a strong and well-supported factor. Ultra-processed foods tend to be high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and calories, and are widely available and affordable in high-income countries. These dietary patterns contribute to excess caloric intake, weight gain, and insulin resistance, which are key pathways to type 2 diabetes. Therefore this option identifies a major driver of increased diabetes rates in developed economies.
Option 3: Good work-life balance and little activity throughout the day. This phrasing is problematic. While sedentary lifestyles are common in many high-income settings due to office work and commuting, describing it as a “good work-life balance” is misleading. A good balance does not inherently cause low activity; many people in high-income countries do have active lifestyles or face social pressures to exercise. Moreover, the underlying issue is overall physical inactivity and urban living, not the notion of balance itself. So this option is not a reliable or universally accurate explanation.
Option 4: All of the above. Since option 1 is only partially correct and option 3 rests on a contested characterization, and option 2 is the strongest driver, this combined choice overstates the case by including less accurate points. Consequently, selecting all of the above would be inappropriate.
In summary: while genetic factors (option 1) and sedentary patterns (part of option 3) may play some role, the most direct and well-supported explanation among the choices is the widespread availability of ultra-processed foods at low prices (option 2). The inclusion of options that are less precise or only partially true makes option 4 incorrect.

Why do high-income countries have a greater rate of diabetes?

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