WHO on Child Obesity: Need for Changes in Food Marketing

Recently, governments from around the world were advised to enforce restrictions when it comes to advertising of salty, sugary and fatty foods, as a response to the issue of childhood obesity and other diseases.

This action is a response to a need to fight non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart and lung disease – fatal sicknesses in third world countries. Non-communicable diseases comprise 60 percent of deaths around the world.

This will be the focal point of discussions in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global health policy this 2011, as heads of state gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

An estimated 42 million of children below five years old are overweight or obese. 35 million of these come from poor countries.

Advertising and marketing can help promote healthier food alternatives for children.

WHO conferred with specific companies, among these Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft, McDonald’s, Nestle, Pepsico, Unilever as well as the World Federation of Advertisers in order to come up with a code of conduct that vows to refrain from promoting unhealthy food products to kids below 12 years old.

WHO would like governments to take a stand by passing laws setting limitations on advertising and marketing activities geared towards kids.


Photo from commons.wikimedia.org

SOURCES:
•    Jonathan Lynn. January 21, 2011. “WHO recommends food marketing curbs for child obesity” News.Yahoo.com
•    January 21, 2011. “WHO Calls for Measures to Counter Child Obesity” VOANews.com
•    Summer. January 25, 2011. “World Health Organization Recommends Changes in Children’s Food” GrowingYourBaby.com