Description

This hybrid event was organized by NCD Alliance, Vital Strategies, NCD Child, World Obesity Federation, together with the Ministry of Health and Wellness of Barbados, on the sidelines of the 75th session of the World Health Assembly.

The panel of experts included Hon. G.P. Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados Minister of Health and Wellness; Dr Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety; Dr Nandita Murukutla, Global Policy and Research VP at Vital Strategies; Dr Simon Barquera, Executive Director of the Nutrition and Health Research Center at Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health; and Ms. Ana Larrañaga, an NCD Child Young Leader from Mexico.

The event was moderated by Ms. Johanna Ralston, CEO of World Obesity Federation, and included welcome remarks from Mr José Luis Castro, President and CEO of Vital Strategies; Dr Naoko Yamamoto, WHO's Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage - Healthier Populations; and HRH Princess Dina Mired, Vital Strategies’ Special Envoy for NCDs.

Recording:

Efficient and effective solutions to promote sustainable and healthy food environments for all exist, yet progress in implementing these solutions is too slow to meet the diet-related NCD global targets. Tackling unhealthy diets requires political commitment, leadership and coherent actions across multiple sectors and away from industry interference.This event brought together key decision-makers and opinion leaders to explore the different investments, solutions and best practice available.

Unhealthy diets and the resulting malnutrition are one of the most serious current global challenges for public health, economic development and environmental sustainability. More and more countries are faced with the double burden of malnutrition where undernutrition coexists alongside overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This challenge is affecting countries at all levels of wealth and development, with marginalized groups from lower economic sectors being most affected with higher rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension.