What we’re eating is killing us, says global food study
Malnutrition and obesity are bigger risk factors of mortality than smoking or pollution — causing one in five deaths worldwide
Bangkok — Poor diets are among the top causes of ill health globally, accounting for nearly one in five deaths, according to a study published on Thursday that called on governments and businesses to do more to improve eating habits. Eating unhealthy food, or not having enough food — including children unable to breastfeed — contribute to widespread malnutrition, said researchers behind the latest Global Nutrition Report. The report is an independently produced annual analysis of the state of the world’s nutrition. “Diets are one of the top risk factors of morbidity and mortality in the world — more than air pollution, more than smoking,” said Jessica Fanzo, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and a lead author. “What we’re eating is killing us. So something needs to get us back on track with our food system,” she said on the sidelines of a global food conference in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. She said a lack of knowledge and affordability of nutritious food, as well as ineffec...
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