WHO to target trans fats and salt to curb ‘tide of non-communicable diseases’

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified trans fats and salt intake amongst its list of low-cost interventions to counter the rise of diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

Non-communicable diseases like heart attacks and strokes, cancers, and diabetes are responsible for over 63% of deaths in the world today. The US alone is said to spend US$ 2 trillion per year on health.

The UN “High Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases” opened yesterday in New York to set a new international agenda for tackling them.

Amongst the list of low-cost measures to counter the burden of non-communicable diseases are campaigns to reduce salt content and replacement of trans fats with polyunsaturated fats, along with public awareness programmes about diet and physical activity.