Unhealthy dietary habits and obesity: the major risk factors beyond non-communicable diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Publication date: 2022
Over the past 30 years, the illness burden in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) has been transmitted from communicable diseases to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. This review discusses and illustrates the epidemiology and nutrition-related risk factors of NCDs in the EMR, aiming to scale up action and support decision-makers in implementing cost-effective strategies to address obesity and NCDs prevention and management in the Region.
Feeding and Risk to Diabetes Mellitus in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Publication date: 2019
Diabetes mellitus is a global problem and in particular in the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This study aims to identify risk factors linked to nutritional indices associated with diabetes mellitus in the Region. Findings show that early discontinuation of breastfeeding may be an underlying factor for risk factors for noncommunicable diseases and diabetes mellitus. Investing in improving early feeding practices can reduce the rising expenditure on noncommunicable diseases in the Region.
Fat intake reduction strategies among children and adults to eliminate obesity and noncommunicable diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Publication date: 2018
This paper discusses the noncommunicable disease burden and estimates the saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids intake and their sources in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It also reviews the evidence on health impacts of reducing saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids intake, introduces regional strategies to reduce fat intake and provides examples of actions taken by countries.
Proposed policy priorities for preventing obesity and diabetes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Publication date: 2017
The alarming and escalating burden of overweight, obesity and diabetes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is closely linked to changing dietary patterns. Obesity and the most common type of diabetes are largely preventable and urgent action is needed to reduce exposure to their causal factors, such as unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. This document considers the recommendations of several recent initiatives on the prevention of obesity and diabetes and identifies priorities for an approach to reduce exposure to unhealthy dietary risk factors. It presents an initial proposal for 10 priority areas for action, which cover 37 strategic interventions to help prevent overweight, obesity and diabetes in the whole population, including children, adolescents and adults.
Policy statement and recommended actions for lowering sugar intake and reducing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Publication date: 2016
This policy statement and proposed action plan is part of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean’s effort to reach the global targets of halting the rise in diabetes and obesity and reduce the burden of premature deaths due to noncommunicable diseases by 25% by 2025. Through a four-phased approach, this policy statement provides the steps that countries should follow to reduce sugar intake, which consequently leads to maintaining a normal body weight, avoiding type 2 diabetes and also preventing dental caries in children and adults.
