PHA-Exchange> WHO LAUNCH EXPERT REPORT ON DIET, NUTRITION AND PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES

[claudio]

>    From:  Judith Ladinsky <jlladins at facstaff.wisc.edu>
> > > 23 April 2003
> > >
WHO LAUNCH EXPERT REPORT ON DIET, NUTRITION AND PREVENTION OF CHRONIC
DISEASES
> > >
 Rome, 23, April 2003 --The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and
the World Health Organization (WHO) today launched an independent expert
> > > report on diet, which will serve as the basis for developing a global
> > > strategy to combat the growing burden of chronic diseases. Diet,
Nutrition
> > > and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases, the report on a two-year-long
> > > Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation, was formally issued by the heads of
the
> > > two agencies, who called for close cooperation to help meet the
challenge.
> > >
> > > The Expert Report contains the best currently available scientific
> > > evidence on the relationship of diet, nutrition and physical activity
to
> > > chronic diseases. The Report examines cardiovascular diseases, several
> > > forms of cancer, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and dental disease.
The
> > > burden of chronic diseases is rapidly increasing; in 2001, they
> > > contributed approximately 59 per cent of the 56.5 million total
reported
> > > deaths in the world and 46 per cent of the global burden of disease.
The
> > > Report concludes that a diet low in saturated fats, sugars and salt,
and
> > > high in vegetables and fruits, together with regular physical
activity,
> > > will have a major impact on combating this high toll of death and
disease.
> > >
> > > All countries must act more decisively to prevent chronic diseases by
> > > supporting healthier diet and physical activity behaviours. Most
> > > developing countries simply do not have the resources in their health
> > > systems, and cannot afford to manage the growing burden of chronic
disease
> > > in addition to their existing health problems, say the agencies.
> > >
> > > "Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, obesity - these are no
longer
> > > rich country problems," says Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland,
Director-General of
> > > WHO. "The majority of chronic disease cases are occurring in the
> > > developing world. Our experience shows us that even modest, but
> > > population-wide interventions on diet and physical activity, can
produce
> > > significant changes in the overall chronic disease burden in a
> > > surprisingly short time. The Report is significant because we will be
> > > using it as the critical science-based foundation for the WHO Global
> > > Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, which we are preparing
to
> > > address this growing chronic disease burden."
> > >
> > > The agencies stressed that solutions to the global surge in chronic
> > > diseases would require stronger linkages between those involved in
health
> > > and agriculture, at global, regional and national levels.
> > >
> > > "This report will help both FAO and WHO devise strategies to promote
> > > nutritious diets and healthier eating habits," says FAO
Director-General
> > > Jacques Diouf.  "Today, only a minority of people in the world are
eating
> > > the amounts of fruit and vegetables recommended by this report. Our
> > > organizations are facing a strong challenge on how to increase
supplies of
> > > fruits and vegetables in a way that will allow all people everywhere
in
> > > the world to have access to them."
> > >
> > > The FAO/WHO Joint Expert Report is based on the collective judgement
of a
> > > group of 30 independent experts with a global perspective, who worked
with
> > > around 30 of their peers to review the best currently available
evidence
> > > on diet, nutrition and its effects on chronic diseases. The Report's
> > > specific recommendations on diet include limiting fat to between 15
and 30
> > > per cent of total daily energy intake, and saturated fats to less than
10
> > > per cent. The Report suggests that carbohydrates should provide the
bulk
> > > of energy requirements - between 55 and 75 per cent of daily intake,
but
> > > that free (i.e. added) sugars should remain beneath 10 per cent. Daily
> > > intake of salt, which should be iodized, should be restricted to less
than
> > > 5 grams a day, while the intake of fruit and vegetables should be at
least
> > > 400 grams. The recommended protein intake is 10-to-15 per cent. It
also
> > > notes that physical activity is a key factor in determining the amount
of
> > > energy spent each day and is fundamental to energy balance and weight
> > > control. One hour per day of moderate-intensity activity, such as
walking,
> > > on most days of the week, is needed to maintain a healthy body weight.
> > >
> > >  "We have known for a long time that foods high in saturated fats,
sugars,
> > > and salt, are unhealthy; that we are, globally, increasing our intake
of
> > > energy-dense, nutritionally poor food as our lives become increasingly
> > > sedentary," says Dr Brundtland. "And that these factors - together
with
> > > tobacco use - are the leading causes of the great surge we have seen
in
> > > the incidence of chronic diseases. What is new, is that we are laying
down
> > > the foundation for a global policy response."
> > >
> > > WHO Member States see this as a priority health issue, she says.
Member
> > > States specifically asked WHO to develop the Global Strategy in
> > > consultation and collaboration with all of the major stakeholders
involved
> > > in food, diet, physical activity and chronic disease. Food and related
> > > companies are a critical element in developing a long-term solution,
says
> > > Dr Brundtland, noting that she will be meeting next month with senior
> > > executives from a number of major food and beverage companies, and
also
> > > with representatives of the key professional and consumer NGOs. All of
> > > this input will be considered in developing the Global Strategy, to be
> > > finalized for the WHO Executive Board in January 2004.
> > >
> > > "The combined energy, resources and expertise of all the relevant UN
> > > agencies, health and nutrition professionals, the private sector and
civil
> > > society, will be essential to sustained progress. We have made this
> > > process as transparent and inclusive as possible, while remaining
> > > committed to our constitutional mandate to improve global public
health,"
> > > says Dr Brundtland.  "Our primary responsibility remains to our Member
> > > States and their people. Our consultations with them so far have
> > > reaffirmed both the importance of what we are doing, and the range of
> > > different problems developing countries in particular face."
> > >
> > > The two agencies note that creating an environment in which the
healthy
> > > choice is the easy choice has significant implications for consumer
> > > information and labelling and for education and recreation.  It also
has
> > > important consequences for agricultural production and processing
methods
> > > as well as trade. It is for this reason that the two agencies have
> > > committed to working closely on diet and chronic disease prevention.
> > >
> > > According to Dr Diouf, "This report by independent experts contains a
> > > number of very interesting recommendations. They require FAO to
examine
> > > trends in consumption patterns to assess how these dietary trends
would
> > > need to be altered in response to the recommendations and how the food
and
> > > agricultural sectors worldwide can adjust to these needs. We will also
> > > need to assess what implications this will have for production and
trade."
> > >
> > > Dr. Diouf said the Report would be presented, together with FAO's
response
> > > to its findings, to the Organization's governing bodies as soon as
> > > possible.  This would include an analysis of the impact of the
> > > recommendations on consumers and farmers in developing countries, many
of
> > > whom are poor and undernourished.
> > >
> > > Dr Brundtland concluded: "Long-term progress will take time. We need
to
> > > look decades ahead, and make a commitment now, to the health of our
> > > current and future generations throughout the globe. The work we are
> > > embarked upon could lead to one of the largest positive shifts in
> > > population health ever undertaken."