GENEVA, Switzerland – The World Health Organization, alarmed at mounting deaths linked to high sugar and fatty diets, presented its recipe Dec. 4 for a world of fitter and more health-conscious eaters.
Incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer – all of which can be brought on by unhealthy diets and inactivity – have soared to account for 60 percent of the 56.5 million preventable deaths each year worldwide.
The problem is greatest in developing countries, even if malnutrition and infectious disease remain more important causes of ill health in the most poor, the United Nations said.
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In a draft plan to be put to member states at the spring 2004 session of the World Health Assembly, the WHO called for governments, food firms and non-governmental organizations to work together to change eating habits.
“A profound shift in the balance of the major causes of death is under way in most countries,” the Geneva-based organization said.
“Of particular concern are the increasingly unhealthy diets and reduced physical activity of children and adolescents.”
It predicts the number of cases of type 2 diabetes, which is acquired rather than inherited, will soar from 117 million to 370 million by 2030. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say one in three Americans born in 2000 will develop the condition.
The proposals, which were drawn up at the request of member states and followed extensive consultations with governments and industry, made no mention of the WHO’s recommendation earlier this year that sugar account for no more than 10 percent of the energy intake in an average diet.
That report, issued with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, sparked an angry response from the U.S. sugar industry, which had argued for a 25 percent ceiling.
In recent months several multinational companies have announced plans to reduce in their products the amounts of some types of vegetable fats linked to obesity and heart disease.
Analysts say those moves have been at least partly motivated by fear that they could eventually face U.S. lawsuits similar to those brought against tobacco companies.
Although it acknowledged the moves made by industry, the WHO said governments should consider tougher measures to curb the amount of salt in processed foods or sugar in drinks or snacks.
The WHO made clear it was sticking by its sugar findings, but said it wanted to co-operate rather than fight with industry.
Governments must monitor advertising and marketing of food, particularly products aimed at children, to ensure that they did not encourage unhealthy diets, it said. Products should also be clearly labelled so consumers could make healthy choices.
