Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, par. 2 and par. 3 (2014)

Text of the recommendation

2. More than 36 million people die from NCDs every year. NCDs have outstripped communicable diseases as the leading cause of death in most parts of the world. Four main diseases – cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes – account for a majority of NCD-related deaths. Unhealthy diets are one of the primary modifiable risk factors associated with NCDs and account for 2.7 million deaths annually. Low- and middle-income countries suffer a greater burden of NCD mortality, with 80 per cent of all NCD deaths occurring in these countries. Unhealthy diets are also linked to high rates of obesity, a growing global epidemic that kills around 2.8 million people a year and is a known risk factor for NCDs.

3. Diets high in intake of foods such as burgers, pizzas, red meats, crisps, biscuits, salty snacks, sugary drinks that contain high levels of sugar, salt, trans-fats and saturated fats are known to pose a greater risk for obesity and NCDs. Most of these foods are ultraprocessed, ready to eat but energy-dense and containing empty calories devoid of nutritional value. Unhealthy foods consumed in small quantities and in addition to healthier sources are not necessarily harmful to health. However, given their high availability and palatability, and due to aggressive marketing, they have replaced healthier foods in diets. This is a particularly worrying trend for low- and middle-income countries, as the rate of consumption of unhealthy foods for such countries is projected to outpace high-income countries. While excess calories consumed from unhealthy foods may be expended through physical activity, the shift in technology from labour-intensive to service-oriented occupations and changes in modes of transportation have resulted in sedentary lifestyles and thereby reduced physical activity and energy expenditure.