US lobby wins time for changes to global health strategy
and health strategy, designed to help the world's governments stem
the rise in obesity.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) executive board, meeting in Geneva this week, debated the plan yesterday with the aim of preparing it for this spring's World Health Assembly.
But US representatives claimed that the science behind the report recommendations was flawed and called for further research into the role of diet on health. The WHO delayed a final decision on the plan, despite being broadly backed by other countries including Britain and France, to allow for changes to the text, according to reports.
Recommendations were issued last year in a draft Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health drawn up by nutritional experts and member states. It highlights that poor diets and lack of exercise are the leading causes of non-communicable disease, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, which account for nearly 60 per cent of 56.5 million deaths a year deemed preventable.
It advises a reduction in dietary sugars, salt and trans fats and also suggests that governments set taxation and subsidy policies to promote healthy eating habits.
But, according to a Reuters report, William Steiger, head of the US delegation, said the plan put too much of the burden for diet reform on states and not enough on individuals.
"Government-imposed solutions are not always appropriate. People need to be empowered to take responsibility for their health," said Steiger.
Around 300 million people worldwide are thought to be obese and 750 million are overweight. Obesity significantly raises the risk for heart disease, diabetes and other life-threatening conditions.
But the US opposition to the WHO plan is said to be a result of pressure by its domestic food lobby, especially the sugar industry.
Last week, consumer group CSPI, warned that Steiger, a special assistant to the US health secretary Tommy Thompson, had written a letter to the WHO director general calling for weaker, unspecified policy approaches, like "better data and surveillance, and the promotion of sustainable strategies that focus on energy balance, individual responsibility, and strong public health approaches".
The WHO executive accepted the US proposal that allows governments more time to suggest changes to the document before it is presented to the 192-nation World Health Assembly in May for final approval.
