Nutritional change is not a simple answer to non-communicable diseases

The United Nations high level meeting on non-communicable diseases in September is a once in a generation chance to chart a way forward to tackle these major threats to health. Among the many proposals being considered in the lead up to the UN meeting are nutrition based interventions such as reducing use of saturated fats and oils and salt consumption.1 The success of these interventions in developed countries has been closely related to the presence of sophisticated government agencies, behaviour change within populations, and the actions of food companies. However, the proposals underestimate the complexity and societal costs of efforts needed to shift people, particularly in developing countries, towards healthier food options. Without this recognition, the suggested actions might not lead to the desired improvement in public health.

After years of working to promote public health in South Africa and prevent and control non-communicable diseases at the World Health Organization, the Rockefeller Foundation, and most recently at PepsiCo, I believe that the prevention of chronic diseases requires new ways of working across the development sectors and between players from government, industry, academia, and non-governmental organisations.