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DISCUSSION No. 129 • FSN Forum digest No. 1242
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Integrating nutrition into the curricula of agriculture education institutions: Strengthening human capacity to promote
nutrition-sensitive agriculture
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until 5 July 2016
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Dear Members,
Below you will find an update on the ongoing discussion:
Are there any successful policies and programmes to fight overweight and obesity?
The facilitators also posted feedback and relaunched the debate with further questions, including issues raised in your
contributions.
Please keep posting, since, indeed,
the fight against obesity is a long-run goal, but we need to start now!
All comments received so far and further background information on the topic are available on the
discussion webpage.
You can participate in
English, French,
Spanish, Arabic,
Chinese and
Russian.
We look forward to keep learning from your experiences!
Your FSN Forum team
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FACILITATOR'S CONTRIBUTIONS
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Rodrigo Vasquez, FAO, Chile
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First of all I want to thank you for all the comments, suggestions and ideas; these are very valuable and useful for our
study.
Most of the comments are more related to health, nutrition, education and economic policy, which are fundamental in the
fight against obesity.
Also some contributors have made some comments related to the role of the farmers in the context of having a supply of
healthy food. I think that in order to address this issue we need to have a policy that covers an inclusive and efficient food system, from supply to demand. So, as a moderator I would like to know
if you are aware of successful programmes or policies in which the farmers were included in short marketing circuits. Additionally, another related intervention aiming to supply healthy food
concerns urban community farms, school farms or gardens;
please share examples of successful experiences in this area you may know about.
Thanks again for all the contributions.
Keep posting please!
The fight against obesity is a long-run goal, but we need to start now!
Best
Rodrigo
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Francisca Silva, Pontificia Universidad
Católica de Chile, Chile
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Dear contributors,
Thank you to everyone who has shared ideas and provided case studies so far!
Very insightful cases of policies and programs addressing obesity and overweight have been presented. Some of them might
serve as a model for similar practices, while the analysis of the failed ones will be very useful to avoid making the same mistakes.
In addition, many of you have pointed out the
need of a comprehensive understanding of the driving factors behind overeating, and the need to contextualize them, taking into account ethnicity, occupation, regional and social considerations.
It is also important to consider the industry reactions and the ways people change their consumption patterns.
Another very interesting contribution was the one that linked
trade and obesity, stating that the lack of legally binding health and dietary standards constrains the implementation of national measures.
Please keep these cases coming! I am interested to hear about
taxes on unhealthy food, labelling and restrictions to advertising on unhealthy food. Also I would be very interested to know if there are any particular
examples of how the industry can be encouraged to provide healthy foods.
Thank you for these and your other rich contributions!
Best regards,
Francisca
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CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED
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Isaac
Kamoko, Kamoko Farms, Zambia
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Isaac lists some of the factors that lead to overweight and obesity.
Read the contribution
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Vethaiya
Balasubramanian, Freelance consultant, India
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According to Vethaiya, consumer education, both for adults and children, and incentives for industries to produce healthier
food are the most important interventions that can address obesity and overweight.
Read the contribution
In his second contribution, Vethaiya points to the nexus between soil health, production practices, crops/animal health,
and human health.
Read the contribution
Furthermore, he presents an initiative on home gardening aimed at promoting the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Read the contribution
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Kuruppacharil
V.Peter, World Noni Research Foundation, India
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KV Peter refers to the "10 Commandments to manage new life style diseases" prepared by the World Noni Research Foundation;
he also highlights the role of amaranth and quinoa for healthy diets.
Read the contribution
In addition, KV Peter shares striking data on obesity and underweight among rural Indian women.
Read the contribution
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Andrea
Borlizzi, FAO, Italy
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Andrea elaborates on some of the actions needed to address the increasing rates of overweight and obesity, and specifically:
the promotion of sustainable mobility, campaigns on healthy diets, stricter rules on substances and additives for processed food, and support for local markets.
Read the contribution
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Patrick
Dlamini, Ministry of Agriculture, Swaziland
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Patrick shares information and challenges of a programme called "Shukuma Swaziland", which means "be active and exercise
Swaziland": this programme encourages people of all ages to exercise and runs throughout the country with government support. Because it is a new intervention, information on impacts is not yet available.
Read the contribution
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Jane
Sherman, FAO, Italy
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Jane shares some encouraging facts on programmes implemented in the USA, which prove to be effective in reducing child
obesity rates.
Read the contribution
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Simone
Bösch, World Cancer Research Fund International, UK
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Simone presents the NOURISHING food policy database of the World Cancer Research Fund International. This database includes
policies aimed to promote healthy diets and to reduce overweight/obesity and non-communicable diseases from over 100 countries.
Read the contribution
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Adetunji
Olajide Falana, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria
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In Nigeria, there is no standalone policy on overweight and obesity, but there are strategic direction documents embedded
in both health and nutrition programmes targeting school children, adolescents and adults. According to Adetunji, the government focuses mainly on other forms of malnutrition and on undernutrition, overlooking the issue of overweight and obesity.
Read the contribution
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Dr.
Amanullah, The University of Agriculture, Pakistan
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Dr. Amanullah posts some recommendations on healthy eating and habits to prevent overweight and obesity.
Read the contribution
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Lynn
Silver, Public Health Institute, USA
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Lynn shares information and references on several policies implemented in New York City and other areas in the USA. Many
interventions involve public procurement policies for schools and hospitals, and play a role in changing food production. Often these policies have been accompanied by education. In addition, policies which prohibit advertising of unhealthy food and beverage
products to children are urgently needed as well as taxes on sweetened beverages. However, most importantly, sustainable food supply chains need to be created.
Read the contribution
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