When it comes to global nutrition, the problems we face are undeniably complex, yet a 2019 Lancet editorial[1] found a way to succinctly encapsulate them in its opening sentence: "Civilization is in crisis."
These words may read as alarming, but as outlined in a series of recent reports appearing in the Lancet,[2,3,4] they are also accurate. Collectively, these reports outline the overlapping health risks of undernutrition, obesity, climate change, and threats to the sustainability of our food sources. However, they also offer a plan for improving diets across nations, and it is therefore worth delving into each of these reports individually, to better understand how we can tackle these problems head on.
The Effects of Unhealthy Diets on Noncommunicable Diseases
The first of these reports—the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) study[2]—evaluated the consumption of major foods and nutrients across 195 countries.
Researchers quantified the impact of suboptimal diets (ie, low intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, and nuts, coupled with high consumption of sugar, sodium, and trans fats) on mortality and morbidity.[2]They concluded that in 2017, 22% of deaths among adults worldwide were associated with poor diets. Most of these 11 million deaths were due to cardiovascular disease, followed by cancer and
Medscape Gastroenterology © 2019 WebMD, LLC
Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Global Nutrition Crisis: What in the World Is Going On? - Medscape - Sep 10, 2019.
COMMENTARY
Global Nutrition Crisis: What in the World Is Going On?
William F. Balistreri, MD
DisclosuresSeptember 10, 2019
When it comes to global nutrition, the problems we face are undeniably complex, yet a 2019 Lancet editorial[1] found a way to succinctly encapsulate them in its opening sentence: "Civilization is in crisis."
These words may read as alarming, but as outlined in a series of recent reports appearing in the Lancet,[2,3,4] they are also accurate. Collectively, these reports outline the overlapping health risks of undernutrition, obesity, climate change, and threats to the sustainability of our food sources. However, they also offer a plan for improving diets across nations, and it is therefore worth delving into each of these reports individually, to better understand how we can tackle these problems head on.
The Effects of Unhealthy Diets on Noncommunicable Diseases
The first of these reports—the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) study[2]—evaluated the consumption of major foods and nutrients across 195 countries.
Researchers quantified the impact of suboptimal diets (ie, low intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, and nuts, coupled with high consumption of sugar, sodium, and trans fats) on mortality and morbidity.[2]They concluded that in 2017, 22% of deaths among adults worldwide were associated with poor diets. Most of these 11 million deaths were due to cardiovascular disease, followed by cancer and
Medscape Gastroenterology © 2019 WebMD, LLC
Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Global Nutrition Crisis: What in the World Is Going On? - Medscape - Sep 10, 2019.
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References
Authors and Disclosures
Authors and Disclosures
Author
William F. Balistreri, MD
Department of Hepatology & Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Disclosure: William F. Balistreri, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.