Rich and poor to clash over sugar in WHO抯 healthy diet plan
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《英国医生杂志》
Poor nations whose income is based on producing basic commodities are set to clash with their wealthy, industrialised counterparts when the World Health Organization抯 192 member states gather in May to adopt a global plan to combat obesity that proposes limits on daily sugar intake.
The final text of WHO抯 global strategy on diet, physical activity, and health was completed last week and will be published in April, a month before WHO member states consider it at the World Health Assembly from 17 to 24 May in Geneva, Switzerland.
A WHO spokesman, David Porter, said that experts had "taken into consideration" amendments proposed by 50 members but were not obliged to use them, suggesting the final draft remained faithful to WHO抯 original.
WHO says the plan is vital to make governments more aware of the health risks of obesity, a major cause of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
The plan has been backed by wealthy countries in Europe and Asia, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Its success hinges on whether WHO and supporters of the anti-obesity plan can convince poor, developing countries that an awareness of healthy diet is relevant for people who do not have enough to eat.
Small producers of sugar and other commodities—such as Mauritius and Swaziland—also fear that the plan, which recommends no more than 10% daily dietary intake of sugar, would hurt their economy, and they argue that it benefits the West抯 fatter citizens most.
John Kunene, principal secretary at Swaziland抯 health ministry, wrote to WHO that hunger and malnutrition were major public health problems in his country.
"Sugar is one of the cheapest energy sources for dealing with this problem. If we are constrained from increasing the amount of sugar intake beyond the 10% target, then our ability to deal with this problem will be correspondingly reduced," Mr Kunene said.
Swaziland and Mauritius are part of a bloc of 134 countries, known as the G77 and China, which have posed the strongest challenge to the plan, but there are signs they may change their minds.
Brazil, a major sugar producer and the country that leads the group, questioned the plan, but its health ministry retracted an initial statement that considered only "economic aspects" and not health.
WHO experts briefed representatives from the group on the plan this month, arguing that it was a set of policy options that could be adapted to each setting.
Now that the United States—which at first opposed the initiative—largely backs the plan and Brazil is having second thoughts, the anti-obesity plan has a better chance of success.(Geneva Fiona Fleck)
The final text of WHO抯 global strategy on diet, physical activity, and health was completed last week and will be published in April, a month before WHO member states consider it at the World Health Assembly from 17 to 24 May in Geneva, Switzerland.
A WHO spokesman, David Porter, said that experts had "taken into consideration" amendments proposed by 50 members but were not obliged to use them, suggesting the final draft remained faithful to WHO抯 original.
WHO says the plan is vital to make governments more aware of the health risks of obesity, a major cause of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
The plan has been backed by wealthy countries in Europe and Asia, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Its success hinges on whether WHO and supporters of the anti-obesity plan can convince poor, developing countries that an awareness of healthy diet is relevant for people who do not have enough to eat.
Small producers of sugar and other commodities—such as Mauritius and Swaziland—also fear that the plan, which recommends no more than 10% daily dietary intake of sugar, would hurt their economy, and they argue that it benefits the West抯 fatter citizens most.
John Kunene, principal secretary at Swaziland抯 health ministry, wrote to WHO that hunger and malnutrition were major public health problems in his country.
"Sugar is one of the cheapest energy sources for dealing with this problem. If we are constrained from increasing the amount of sugar intake beyond the 10% target, then our ability to deal with this problem will be correspondingly reduced," Mr Kunene said.
Swaziland and Mauritius are part of a bloc of 134 countries, known as the G77 and China, which have posed the strongest challenge to the plan, but there are signs they may change their minds.
Brazil, a major sugar producer and the country that leads the group, questioned the plan, but its health ministry retracted an initial statement that considered only "economic aspects" and not health.
WHO experts briefed representatives from the group on the plan this month, arguing that it was a set of policy options that could be adapted to each setting.
Now that the United States—which at first opposed the initiative—largely backs the plan and Brazil is having second thoughts, the anti-obesity plan has a better chance of success.(Geneva Fiona Fleck)