FAO Representative in Vietnam Albert Lieberg speaks at the meeting in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The UN Food and AgricultureOrganization (FAO) Representative in Vietnam Albert Lieberg calledfor urgent actions to end hunger and malnutrition at a meeting in Hanoi onOctober 14 on the occasion of World Food Day (October 16).
“An unhealthy diet has become one of the leading causes of death fromnon-communicable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and certaincancers. It is high time for us all to start thinking about what we eat and howit equally serve not only ourselves but also the fauna, the water,the soil, the air and the existential resources of our planet,” said AlbertLieberg.
The FAO representative said unhealthy diets, combined with sedentarylifestyles, have sent obesity rates soaring, not only in developed countriesbut also in middle and low-income countries, where hunger and obesity oftencoexist.
“Now, while over 800 million people suffer from hunger, more than 670 millionadults and 120 million girls and boys (from 5 to 19 years of age) areobese. Every year, health problems linked to obesity and malnutrition arecosting national health budgets up to 2 trillion USD.”
He said that besides the harm to human health, dietary changes alsocontributed substantially to environmental degradation and climate change.
Research showed environmental damage caused by the food system could increase50 to 90 percent, due to increased consumption of processed food, meat andother animal-sourced products. A rapid loss of biodiversity is related tointensified and unsustainable food production, combined with climatechange.
“This year's World Food Day is a call with urgent action across sectors to makehealthy diets available and affordable to everyone,” said Lieberg.
“We need to be health-conscious and change our eating habits. We can start withlearning to understand the nutrition labels, becoming critical consumers andbeing more aware of the impacts that the foods we eat have on the environmentand on our health,” he added.
On the occasion, the Ministry of Health also launched acampaign 'Nutrition and Development Week' from October 16-23, torespond to World Food Day and call on the population to have proper nutritionand healthy diets.
Speaking at the event, the health ministry’s Preventive Medicine Director Tran DacPhu said Vietnam faces the double burden of malnutrition and obesity alongwith non-communicable diseases related to nutrition and lifestyle, especiallyin urban areas.
“To handle the situation, we need to improve our knowledge to have the rightnutrition practices, change unhealthy lifestyles and eating habits to a healthydiet and maintain a positive and active lifestyle to bring the best nutritionaland health status to everybody,” said Phu.
World Food Day, October16, is an initiative of the FAO since 1979. Since then, World Food Day has beencelebrated annually in more than 150 countries and territories, aiming to raiseawareness of poverty and hunger issues, and rational use of food andfoodstuffs./.
“An unhealthy diet has become one of the leading causes of death fromnon-communicable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and certaincancers. It is high time for us all to start thinking about what we eat and howit equally serve not only ourselves but also the fauna, the water,the soil, the air and the existential resources of our planet,” said AlbertLieberg.
The FAO representative said unhealthy diets, combined with sedentarylifestyles, have sent obesity rates soaring, not only in developed countriesbut also in middle and low-income countries, where hunger and obesity oftencoexist.
“Now, while over 800 million people suffer from hunger, more than 670 millionadults and 120 million girls and boys (from 5 to 19 years of age) areobese. Every year, health problems linked to obesity and malnutrition arecosting national health budgets up to 2 trillion USD.”
He said that besides the harm to human health, dietary changes alsocontributed substantially to environmental degradation and climate change.
Research showed environmental damage caused by the food system could increase50 to 90 percent, due to increased consumption of processed food, meat andother animal-sourced products. A rapid loss of biodiversity is related tointensified and unsustainable food production, combined with climatechange.
“This year's World Food Day is a call with urgent action across sectors to makehealthy diets available and affordable to everyone,” said Lieberg.
“We need to be health-conscious and change our eating habits. We can start withlearning to understand the nutrition labels, becoming critical consumers andbeing more aware of the impacts that the foods we eat have on the environmentand on our health,” he added.
On the occasion, the Ministry of Health also launched acampaign 'Nutrition and Development Week' from October 16-23, torespond to World Food Day and call on the population to have proper nutritionand healthy diets.
Speaking at the event, the health ministry’s Preventive Medicine Director Tran DacPhu said Vietnam faces the double burden of malnutrition and obesity alongwith non-communicable diseases related to nutrition and lifestyle, especiallyin urban areas.
“To handle the situation, we need to improve our knowledge to have the rightnutrition practices, change unhealthy lifestyles and eating habits to a healthydiet and maintain a positive and active lifestyle to bring the best nutritionaland health status to everybody,” said Phu.
World Food Day, October16, is an initiative of the FAO since 1979. Since then, World Food Day has beencelebrated annually in more than 150 countries and territories, aiming to raiseawareness of poverty and hunger issues, and rational use of food andfoodstuffs./.
VNA
