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Countering an alarming trend

If communicable diseases were the bane of society the world over some decades ago, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes have taken their place in most developed countries and many developing countries as well. A more sedentary lifestyle and consumption of calorie-rich food are largely to be blamed for these diseases becoming widely prevalent. Already half of all adults and a fifth of children in the WHO European Region have been found overweight and one third of these people are categorised as obese. In a radical departure from solely blaming the individual for choosing such self-destructive behaviour, the European Charter on Counteracting Obesity signed recently by 53 member states wants all stakeholders including governments to play an active role in reversing the trend. By specifying that "reduction of fat, free (particularly added) sugar and salt in manufactured products" is needed to fight obesity, the charter has placed equal responsibility on the producers. It has spoken strongly against the practice of exploiting children by "commercial activities" and setting the stage for an unhealthy consumption pattern early in life. The powerful influence that icons promoting junk food have in shaping the eating habits of children has been well researched. Educational campaigns for weaning children away from junk food form an important element of public health policy that governments have to take up.

Several studies have shown that the number of children and adults becoming overweight and obese is on the rise in India, where the number of diabetics is the highest in the world and the number of coronary deaths occurring in a year is expected to touch two million by 2010. India and some other developing countries face a double whammy — the communicable diseases that are still prevalent, with a high rate of mortality, and the non-communicable diseases directly linked to unhealthy lifestyle and excessive body weight that account for a growing rate of morbidity and mortality. The national programme for prevention of non-communicable diseases launched by the Central Government to reverse the disturbing trend has come not a day too soon. What is particularly worrying is that consuming junk food is coming to be regarded as a lifestyle statement. A sustained campaign is required to educate people, particularly children, on the risks of taking junk food and the compelling need for physical activity. The advice Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss recently gave to students to keep away from junk food is timely and indicative of the Government's serious concern. The greater genetic predisposition of Indians to diabetes is a warning signal and calls for early action on the obesity front as well.

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