The way we produce and consume food through our food system is tightly linked to the environment and health. Foods high in salt, sugar and trans fats can be harmful to our health and cause early death. at the same time Production of food products may cause soil pollution. Greenhouse gas emissions and waste from packaging But there are ways to help understand the impact of the food system on the environment and health. WHO/Europe’s new tool for Dietary Impact Assessment (DIA) can help.
Unhealthy Foods: An Overlooked Risk
In parts of the WHO European Region and elsewhere, food and food systems are generally not healthy or sustainable. Unhealthy diet is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCD) from diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. and is the cause of 1 in 5 deaths worldwide.
Worldwide, an estimated 2 billion people are overweight and obese, and in the region, it affects 1 in 3 primary school-age children.
“Aside from the obvious risks of eating an unhealthy diet, There is also a broader picture of regional food production that is even more worrying. The way we produce and consume food around the world takes us beyond what is thought to be a safe limit for global stability,” said Dr. Kremlin Wickremesinghe, Regional Advisor for Nutrition. exercise and obesity of WHO/Europe said
“At the same time If healthy and sustainable food means eating expensive food, This is bad news not only for most households. but also the national economy.”
Food systems undermine global stability
The environmental impact of food production is a matter of concern. Agriculture is responsible for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions and uses 70% of freshwater resources. Overuse of fertilizers in some regions has led to pollution of surface and groundwater. and causing dead areas in the ocean.
The world’s population is expected to increase from 7 billion today to nearly 10 billion by mid-century. Therefore, the health and environmental impacts are likely to be worse. Demand for foods such as meat, dairy products, and processed foods which may be harmful to people’s health and the environment is also increasing.
If we don’t change the way we produce and eat food, such as switching to a healthy, plant-based diet. We may endanger the well-being of the planet. and risk being unable to avoid dangerous levels of climate change.
Food Impact Assessment (DIA) Tool: What’s Inside?
The DIA tool is intended for policy makers, researchers and practitioners in different countries. of the WHO European Region seeking a quality, data-driven tool to assess foods and explore answers to the following questions.
- Countries affect the diet of their citizens to make them healthier. more sustainable And how inexpensive is it?
- How do today’s popular foods align with global health and environmental goals?
- What possible policy changes could help address the main environmental, health, and economic challenges facing countries’ food systems?
For each food situation, DIA simultaneously considers health indicators such as premature death. This can be avoided by improving the diet. Risk factors for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes and risks related to body weight – and environmental analysis such as greenhouse gas emissions. Farmland and fresh water
“The DIA tool will help countries They can create sustainable, data-driven policies tailored to their populations. By not only analyzing the health, economic and environmental impacts of eating food. Helps to predict various situations. of dietary changes by estimating the health, environmental and cost burdens of each situation,” Dr. Wickramasinghe explained.
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