Health & Medicine
WHO Suggests Regulation of Fast Food Industry to Reduce Obesity Rates
Vanishree Bhatt
First Posted: Feb 03, 2014 05:17 AM EST
A recent study by the WHO says that government regulations on fast food could help control rise in obesity.
The study published in the Bulletin of World Health Organization (WHO), states that the government must take control over the billion dollar fast-food industry, which is one of the primary reasons for the rising obesity epidemic in many countries of the world.
The research established the relation between growing Body Mass Index (BMI) and the frequency in consumption of fast food in 25 high-income countries between the years 1999-2008. The average BMI of people in these countries increased from 25.8 to 26.4 and the fast-food transactions( the number of times people bought fast food) from 26.61 to 32.76.
In countries like Canada , Australia, Ireland and New Zealand a sharp increase in the number of fast food transaction was noticed, while countries with stringent fast-food market regulations -- Netherlands, Greece, Italy and Belgium -- saw the lowest. These findings are especially relevant for developing nations, which cannot really afford to repeat the costly mistakes of the advanced nations.
The WHO and its Department of Nutrition wants governments to take preventive measures by regulating the production and supply of unhealthy food. Regular or frequent consumption of fast food leads to diabetes, heart problems and other related issues. The policy suggests economic incentives for producers of healthy food, disincentives for industries selling unhealthy processed food and tighter rules on advertising fast-food to children.
Roberto De Vogli, lead researcher, University of California, said in the report, "Unless governments take steps to regulate their economies, the invisible hand of the market will continue to promote obesity worldwide with disastrous consequences for future public health and economic productivity."
Francesco Branca, director of the WHO's Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, said the government polices were important to address obesity as a global issue.
"Policies targeting food and nutrition are needed across several sectors including agriculture, industry, health, social welfare and education," Branca said.
About 35 percent of the U.S. adult population is obese, according to the CDC.
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First Posted: Feb 03, 2014 05:17 AM EST
A recent study by the WHO says that government regulations on fast food could help control rise in obesity.
The study published in the Bulletin of World Health Organization (WHO), states that the government must take control over the billion dollar fast-food industry, which is one of the primary reasons for the rising obesity epidemic in many countries of the world.
The research established the relation between growing Body Mass Index (BMI) and the frequency in consumption of fast food in 25 high-income countries between the years 1999-2008. The average BMI of people in these countries increased from 25.8 to 26.4 and the fast-food transactions( the number of times people bought fast food) from 26.61 to 32.76.
In countries like Canada , Australia, Ireland and New Zealand a sharp increase in the number of fast food transaction was noticed, while countries with stringent fast-food market regulations -- Netherlands, Greece, Italy and Belgium -- saw the lowest. These findings are especially relevant for developing nations, which cannot really afford to repeat the costly mistakes of the advanced nations.
The WHO and its Department of Nutrition wants governments to take preventive measures by regulating the production and supply of unhealthy food. Regular or frequent consumption of fast food leads to diabetes, heart problems and other related issues. The policy suggests economic incentives for producers of healthy food, disincentives for industries selling unhealthy processed food and tighter rules on advertising fast-food to children.
Roberto De Vogli, lead researcher, University of California, said in the report, "Unless governments take steps to regulate their economies, the invisible hand of the market will continue to promote obesity worldwide with disastrous consequences for future public health and economic productivity."
Francesco Branca, director of the WHO's Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, said the government polices were important to address obesity as a global issue.
"Policies targeting food and nutrition are needed across several sectors including agriculture, industry, health, social welfare and education," Branca said.
About 35 percent of the U.S. adult population is obese, according to the CDC.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone