How can agriculture and trade policy contribute to a healthy diet? This is the question policy-makers throughout Europe are hoping to find answers to.
Today, they meet in Rome for a WHO Regional Office for Europe consultation in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), on the role of agricultural and trade policies in action against obesity, hosted and supported by the Italian Government.
The WHO Regional Office for Europe is calling for greater recognition of the link between nutrition and both agricultural and trade policies. How food is produced, from primary production in the agricultural sector, through processing by manufacturers, to distribution through retailers such as supermarkets, plus what is available from outside the Region, influences the food choices people make.
Current agricultural and trade policies in countries are often at odds with WHO recommendations. Region-wide, fruit and vegetables are not produced or available in sufficient quantities to meet guidelines for people's daily consumption.
As healthy foods are often more expensive than processed energy-dense alternatives, a nutritional disparity can be seen not only from country to country and area to area, but also between different demographic groups, with people from low socioeconomic groups more likely to consume unhealthy options.
"It is a sad fact that overweight and obesity affect the poorest parts of society most, and also have long-term consequences for one of its most vulnerable groups - children," said Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe. "Everyone should have the right to healthy food, and government policies must support both availability and access in Europe."
The under-production of and trade barriers to healthy foods affect some areas more than others, leading to food deserts where these commodities are in short supply. In contrast, some current policies support the widespread availability of high-density, high-energy products that are a significant factor in the accelerating rates of overweight and obesity, as well as other lifestyle-related conditions and diseases.
The aim of the consultation in Rome is to facilitate constructive dialogue between the agriculture, trade and public health sectors, and to identify policy options, such as supporting primary production, fiscal policies and marketing guidelines, that can contribute to tackling the epidemic in obesity and related noncommunicable diseases. Participants will review national examples of health links and policy options, and formulate recommendations for the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Counteracting Obesity taking place in Istanbul, Turkey in November 2006.
Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Its prevalence has risen threefold in many European countries since the 1980s, and the numbers of those affected, particularly children, are continuing to increase at an alarming rate. Obesity is already responsible for 2-8% of health care costs and 10-13% of deaths in different parts of the WHO European Region - more than any other WHO region.
The problem is mainly associated with unhealthy eating and low physical activity. In addition to individual behaviour, however, it is also increasingly linked to social and economic policies and development, such as those related to agriculture, transport, urban planning, the environment, food distribution, processing and marketing, and education.
Both society and governments have a responsibility to curb the epidemic. Policies should involve different government sectors, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders.
In response to the emerging problem of nutrition-related diseases a Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases was held in 2002. In May 2004, WHO Member States adopted the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health at the 57th World Health Assembly, where it was stated that "National food and agricultural policies should be consistent with the protection and promotion of public health". In its 18th Session, the FAO Committee on Agriculture in 2004 proposed to follow up on the Technical Report Series No. 9161 and requested a thorough assessment of the links between changing food consumption patterns and noncommunicable diseases the possible effects of, and changing demand on agricultural production systems and commodity trade, as well as on supply responses through diversification, taking into account the specificities of individual countries, population groups and dietary patterns.
To facilitate further Region-wide action, the WHO Regional Office for Europe is organizing a Ministerial Conference on Counteracting Obesity, to be hosted by the Government of Turkey in Istanbul on 15-17 November 2006. The European Commission is a principal international partner for the Conference, and collaboration is in progress with other international organizations such as FAO, the World Bank and the Council of Europe, among others.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Dr Francesco Branca
Regional Adviser, Nutrition and Food Security
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100 Copenhagen ุ, Denmark
Tel: +45 39 30 13 62. Fax: + 45 39 17 18 54
Email: fbr@euro.who.int
PRESS INFORMATION:
Ms Liuba Negru
Press and Media Relations Officer
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100 Copenhagen ุ, Denmark
Tel.: +45 39 17 13 44. Fax: +45 39 17 18 80
E-mail: LNE@euro.who.int
Ms Faith Kilford
Conference Communications Officer
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100 Copenhagen ุ, Denmark
Tel.: +45 39 17 15 50. Fax: +45 39 17 18 18
E-mail: FKI@euro.who.int
Ms Cristiana Salvi
Technical Officer, Communication and Advocacy
WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Rome
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Via Francesco Crispi 10, I-00187 Rome, Italy
Tel.: +39 06 4877543. Mobile: +39 348 0192305
Fax: +39 06 4877599
E-mail: csa@ecr.euro.who.int
1 Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. Report of a Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2003 (Technical Report Series, No. 916).
