Member States of the World Health Organization unanimously endorsed the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. The strategy addresses two of the major risk factors responsible for the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases, which now account for some 60 percent of global deaths and almost half (47 percent) of the global burden of disease. Noncommunicable diseases include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancers and obesity-related conditions.
The strategy emphasizes the need to limit the consumption of saturated fats and trans fatty acids, salt and sugars, and to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables and levels of physical activity. It also addresses the role of prevention in health services; food and agriculture policies; fiscal policies; surveillance systems, regulatory policies; consumer education and communication including marketing, health claims and nutrition labeling; and school policies as they affect food and physical activity choices.