WHO partnership
The World Heart Federation supports the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, an initiative that emphasizes the need to limit the intake of certain fats, sugars and salt and increase consumption of fruits and vegetables and levels of physical activity.
History
The Member States endorsed the WHO Global Strategy at the 2004 Annual World Health Assembly in Geneva. The text of the final resolution (WHA57.17).
The Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health is available in the six WHO official languages.
Learn more on the history >
Follow-up
During the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Counteracting Obesity, 15-17 November 2006 in Istanbul, Turkey, a review of evidence-based and multi-sectoral policies was undertaken.
It was also the opportunity to promote national action and strengthen international collaboration. WHO Member States had the opportunity to express their view on a Charter; all were in favour of the signature of the document. The Charter was signed by the WHO Director Regional for Europe and the Minister of Health of the Republic of Turkey on behalf of all the Member States in the WHO European Region.
The Charter states: “Visible progress, especially relating to children and adolescents, should be achievable in most countries in the next 4-5 years and it should be possible to reverse the trend by 2015 at the latest”. The Charter calls for a focus on children and action that encourages them to establish healthy habits early in life, as well as protecting them from commercial promotion of energy-dense food and beverage. The Charter details other key actions needed to encourage healthier diets and more physical activity, reducing the amount of fat, sugar and salt in manufactured products; promoting cycling and walking through better urban design and transport policies and establishing opportunities for daily physical activity and for good nutrition and physical education in schools.
The Charter was developed through an open consultation process, driven by Member States and involving different government sectors, international organizations, experts, civil society and the private sector. At the end of the conference, it was stressed that the Charter should be used as a tool by Member Sates to implement effective action. Representatives of civil society called upon the Member States to turn the Charter into practical actions.