A Few Facts from the Global Report on the State of Dietary Data, 2022

 

Based on the Global report on the state of dietary data, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Intake Centre for Dietary Assessment, 2022 a few points are presented for the benefit of readers. We all know that the importance of a healthy diet for good nutrition and overall well-being is the sine qua non. Low-quality foods are associated with malnutrition, micro-nutrient deficiencies, and a range of adverse cardio-metabolic and non-communicable disease outcomes, including hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. It is evident from the Report that poor-quality diets have been identified as a top risk factor for disease globally, with recent analyses by the Global Burden of Disease Project estimating that 10 percent of the world’s attributable disease burden is associated with dietary risks.  It may be mentioned here that the country stories in this section illustrate the ways in which political will was successfully generated for initiating dietary surveys in the given countries (15 Countries) viz.,  Brazil, China, Kenya, Zambia, Niger, Jordan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Jordan, Kenya, the Philippine,   Viet Nam, Zambia, and Mexico.

Further, the economic and health burdens associated with poor-quality diets are a worldwide concern, but for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where health systems are generally less accessible and less equipped to respond to complex health outcomes, the long-term impact of these burdens has the potential to be especially devastating. Many of these LMICs are currently grappling with the deepening multiple burdens of malnutrition. It is pertinent to mention here that in the Report Less Developed Countries, or Developing Countries,  such term has not been used but the term is low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which academicians can note down.

A few of the important points for general people about diets are:

a)      It is recommended that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) should provide no more than 3 percent of total energy intake, and applies to all age groups. This is an important point as different types of cool drinks people in general and children, in particular, prefer during summer but I suggest it should be less. And we all know the impact of high sugar ​on the body. In simple language, blood sugar may damage the eyes, kidneys, hearts, and other organs.

b)      Regarding saturated fats as examples few are mentioned here: butter, cheese, ghee, coconut oil and palm oil, cakes, sausages, bacon, cured meats like salami, chorizo​,​ and pancetta, it should provide no more than 10 percent of total energy intake, as excess intake of saturated fat is associated with cardiovascular disease.

c)      It is evident from the publication that at least 400 grams of fruits and vegetables per day should be consumed by a normal adult, for non-communicable disease (NCD) risk reduction, but the threshold was adjusted to 360 grams per day for adolescents, as they consume less food and energy on average than adults.

d)     It is evident from the report that milk potentially improves intakes of calcium, vitamin A and vitamin B12, better than huge saturated foods.

While discussing the dietary habit, a case from Hyderabad, India viz., Pragati Resorts​may be presented.  It was established in 1994 near Hyderabad city which was barren with terrible climate conditions and was unfit for cultivation. The present Chairman and founder Dr. G.B.K Rao selected the land based on three criteria – i) it is away from the city and away from the highway, ii) non-cultivable /barren, and iii) low water level. Now, the area has been turned into heaven and the people call it "Pragati is Heaven on Earth". In the Resorts there are many activities based on nature. One important activity is a provision of ‘Amrutha Ahaaram’ (meaning Amrita/lifesaving foods), and this special 3-day package has been designed to boost immunity levels naturally to fight against any type of virus or bacteria.

Before​ ​conclusion, it may be mentioned from the report that six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), (Brazil, China, India, Mexico, the Philippines,​and Viet Nam) have institutionalized the implementation of dietary surveys to ensure routine implementation in the country.