Metabolic disorders in general have quite pronounced dietary components, and these have been relatively thoroughly explored in Western populations. But diets are different in Southeast Asia, and so must be their influence upon, and interaction with, metabolic disorders, which this study attempts to explore.Each of the topics covered in the book has first been set out in terms of its general importance in a broad, sociomedical context, after which there is a summary of its metabolic basis. These disparate matters are related to the diets of Southeast Asians, and then conclusions are drawn where possible.