Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health

World Health Organisation (WHO)

January 2004




What is the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health?

  • In order to address the growing problem of obesity and the role that diet, nutrition and exercise play in preventing non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has drawn up a draft Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. Globally, non-communicable diseases account for 60 per cent of deaths annually.

 

Actions to take:

  • Farmers’ organisations need to engage in immediate, intensive discussions with Ministers of Health in each country concerning this Strategy, since it is taking a direction that will affect farmers significantly.
  • Farmers have until the end of February 2004 to give their views on the draft Global Strategy to their Health Minister. After that time the final version of the Strategy will be prepared for adoption at the World Health Assembly in May 2004.

What’s wrong with this draft strategy?

  • Instead of taking the approach that obesity is caused by overeating and lack of exercise, the report chooses to put forward the idea of "good foods" versus "bad foods". Good foods are identified as fruits and vegetables; bad foods are identified as those containing fat (meat, dairy products, vegetable oils), sugar and salt products. Based upon this approach, the Global Strategy recommends quantitative limits on the ‘bad foods’.
  • IFAP’s farmers oppose the WHO idea of “good food” versus “bad food” and think that every food plays a role in a balanced, healthy diet.
  • There is little sound scientific evidence as a basis for the WHO strategy, but rather it is based on the views of a particular expert group of WHO. For farmers, it is essential that health policy be based on sound scientific evidence, and on an open dialogue with farmers’ organisations and other involved stakeholders.
  • Advertising bans, and taxes on food, as proposed in this strategy, are not the way to treat problems of obesity and lack of physical exercise. WHO is wrong to lead governments to look at fats and sugars in the same way as tobacco.
  • One worldwide diet model is not appropriate. Countries and individuals are very different in the way that they live and in the way that they compose their diets.
  • There are too many conflicting messages on diet and health, and farmers and other industry representatives called upon WHO to bring together the different national strategies in this areas and develop clear consensus guidelines e.g. on nutrient labelling, consumer education and information, and the importance of physical activity in schools.


What should be changed?

  • IFAP support the drawing up of food-based dietary guidelines, with these guidelines being developed in specific socio-cultural contexts reflecting national health issues.
  • WHO needs to give attention in its Strategy to problems of nutrient deficiency and malnutrition that are currently ignored in the text.  Malnutrition is as much a health problem as obesity.
  • This strategy of WHO should not undermine critical work on eliminating hunger in the world.
  • The strategy should underline the benefits of foods. For example, consumption of dairy products should be recommended against osteoporosis.



The consequences:

  • The worldwide consequences of this strategy, if adopted, would be substantial.
  • It would be particularly detrimental to farmers in the dairy, meat, oilseeds and sugar sectors. Studies by the University of Reading in the UK suggest that the adoption of the proposed WHO strategy, if followed, would:
    • Decrease global sugar consumption by 14 million tonnes (-10%)
    • Decrease global butter consumption by 1 million tonnes (-13%)
    • Decrease global pigmeat consumption by 5 million tonnes (-5%)
    • Decrease global consumption of soybean oil by 3 million tonnes (-11%); reduce global consumption of rapeseed oil by 1 million tonnes (-7 %)

Farmer representatives recognise that in many countries, unbalanced diets and lack of physical activity is a growing health problem. But, any WHO strategy to address the issue must be ‘evidence-based’ and have the support of involved stakeholders, including farmers.

 

Annex 1: Selected population nutrient intake goals which are at the basis of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health


 Dietary Factor

WHO/FAO Recommendations

 (in percent of total energy unless otherwise stated)

 Total Fat

15 - 30%
Polyunsaturated fatty acids

6-10 %
Saturated fatty acids

< 10 %
Trans fatty acids

< 1 %
 Total Carbohydrate (a)

55 – 75 %
Free sugars (b)

< 10 %

 Protein (c)

10 - 15%

 Fruits and Vegetables

> 400 g/person/day

Source: FAO, based on the Report of the Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation, WHO Technical Report Series No. 916, WHO, Geneva, 2003.

Notes:

  • Percentage of total energy available after taking into account that consumed as protein and fat; hence, the wide range.
  • The term “free sugars” refers to all monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, plus sugars naturally present in honey, syrups and fruit juices.