Diet and nutrition play a major role in health and disease. A ‘poor’ diet can mean many things: it may refer to the over-consumption of food, a diet low in dietary fibre or complex carbohydrates, or high in salt, fat, or sugar. Eating a poor diet contributes significantly to the risk of developing a number of chronic and fatal conditions, including stroke, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, some forms of cancer, and obesity. The Department of Health has estimated that a poor diet – particularly one that is low in fruit and vegetables – may contribute to the development of a third of all cancers.
The Foresight Report on obesity, published in October 2007 by the Government Office for Science indicated that on current trends nearly 60 per cent of the UK population will be obese by 2050 - that is almost two out of three in the population. If this trend continues, millions of people will experience deteriorating health and a lower quality of life.
Persuading people to eat a healthy, balanced diet is therefore an important means of improving the nation’s health and reducing the incidence of premature death and disability.
In January 2008 the Department of Health published new £372 million cross-government strategy called Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives to help everyone lead healthier lives. It is designed to bring together employers, individuals and communities to promote children's health and healthy food; build physical activity into our lives; support health at work; and provide incentives more widely to promote health. The CIEH will be working to support this strategy.
