This is an issue that no country can afford to ignore, declared IDF President Prof Pierre Lef bvre, adding that, children worldwide are following a similar pattern to that in the USA. Strong measures are needed to combat these epidemics, including restrictions on marketing targeted at children, a shift of emphasis away from the dominance of fats and added sugars in diet, towards a greater consumption of fruit and vegetables, and efforts to encourage greater physical activity in everyday life.

In a joint statement delivered during the World Health Assembly in conjunction with the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) and the International Pediatric Association, with backing from the World Heart Federation and the International Union of Nutritional Sciences, IDF stressed that national governments must be encouraged to initiate and implement the necessary preventative measures, and the global food and soft drinks industries must demonstrate their commitment towards promoting the health and wellbeing of their consumers. idf