World obesity plan may be at risk

Anti-obesity advocates said yesterday they fear a block of poor nations, led by sugar producers, could derail a global plan for fighting the world’s growing weight problem.

Anti-obesity advocates said yesterday they fear a block of poor nations, led by sugar producers, could derail a global plan for fighting the world’s growing weight problem.With one in four people in the world now overweight and outnumbering those who are hungry, diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer are on the rise almost everywhere.Global health experts are pushing a strategy that countries are expected to vote on later this week at the annual meeting of the governing body of the World Health Organization.But some countries are upset with the plan’s recommended limits on how much sugar people should eat and the possible use of taxes and subsidies to encourage healthier habits.”It seems to me that the strategy is unraveling,” said Dr. Philip James, head of the International Obesity Task Force. “If this doesn’t go through, the world will be a lot worse off.”A senior Brazilian official confirmed that his country, a leading sugar producer, plans to propose changes on the sugar limits and agricultural policies, but said the intention was to finesse the wording so that other developing countries would be more comfortable with it. Brazil and the others seek approval of the strategy, not to derail it, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.(Source: Associated Press Health News, May 2004)