Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health

Abstract

An expert report aiming to design strategies in promoting healthy diets and physical activity behaviours was published a year ago by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO Technical Report Series No. 916, 2003). The global strategy aims to combat constructively the increasing problem of chronic diseases, on all levels in countries around the world. Overweight, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure, and cancer account for more than 60% of all deaths worldwide and about half of the global burden of disease. In a special report in this issue, Amalia Waxman, from the WHO, discusses the policy aspects of the global strategy against the epidemic of these non-communicable diseases and the WHO's work so far.