Healthy dietary habits prevent diseases

A major report on how millions of people around the world can avoid chronic disease through diet and exercise has called on the food industry to reduce amounts of certain types of fats as well as salt and sugar in snacks and processed foods. Diet and nutrition are important factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health throughout the entire life course. Their role as determinants of chronic non-communicable diseases is well established and they therefore occupy a prominent position in prevention activities. The latest scientific evidence on the nature and strength of the links between diet and chronic diseases is examined and discussed in detail in the report. This report, by a panel of experts from around the world, was commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. It will form the basis of a major new WHO global strategy on diet and physical activity, to be unveiled early in 2004. The report says that many preventable deaths attributed to chronic diseases are due to obesity, high blood pressure , high cholesterol concentrations, and low levels of physical activity. The prevention of obesity in children is a priority and recommends restricting consumption of 'energy-dense, micronutrient-poor foods' (e.g. packaged snacks) and restricting intake of 'sugar-sweetened soft drinks.' It criticises the food and drinks industry for heavy marketing practices of these foods. Food industry associations hit back, dismissing some of the findings as conflicting with scientific evidence on obesity, diet quality and nutrient intake and there is no association between sugar consumption and obesity. According to them people who have carbohydrate based diets have a lower body mass index. But consumers' groups were positive about the report and its recommendations to protect children from aggressive marketing of unhealthy processed food. WHO plans to reinvigorate its work on diet and nutrition and address the issue of excessive consumption of foods rich in fats, sugar or salt. This report, concludes that a diet low in saturated fats, sugar, and salt and high in fruit and vegetables, together with an hour a day of exercise, can counter cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and obesity.