Western agriculture policies blamed for obesity

[Guest guest]

At least they're discussing high-energy foods in public policy now...

-Diane

The agricultural policies of the world's top producing nations are

contributing to the increasing problem of obesity in developing

nations, a leading researcher said Monday.

Such policies favor high-fat, high-energy products over basic fruits

and vegetables, said Dr. Philip , the British chairman of the

International Obesity Task Force.

" The trade policies that are currently in play are those which

subsidize and distort the market to make fats and sugars cheaper and

fruits and vegetables more expensive, " said during a break in

the 10th International Obesity Congress in Sydney.

As a result, many developing countries are now seeing dramatic

increases in their rates of obesity, thanks to an influx of subsidized

sugar and fat-based products from the United States and Europe.

In China, for example, the rate of obesity has risen from almost zero

in the 1980s to about 10 percent of the population in 2006 due to

massive imports of cheap meat products, and soy and palm-based oils,

said.

" The health profile of China is being transformed in front of our

eyes, " he said, adding that the rates of heart disease and diabetes

are on the rise.

Pakistan, India and several South Pacific countries also have seen

recent increases in obesity rates and related health conditions, he said.

Negotiations in the five-year long World Trade Organization talks were

suspended indefinitely in July after the United States and Europe

refused to cut barriers in farm trade such as tariffs and subsidies.

, who has advised British Prime Minister Tony Blair on nutrition

policy, believes the collapse of the trade talks provides an

opportunity to radically rethink agricultural policy to create

economic opportunities for the developing world and improve global health.

The International Obesity Task Force is a section of the International

Association for the Study of Obesity, a professional organization of

scientists and health workers in some 50 countries.

The association organized the International Congress on Obesity, which

will hear research and papers from almost 400 experts before wrapping

up on Friday.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060905/D8JUCTMG0.html