A new era of eating problems has begun

Overweight and obesity are more frequent and a whole range of diseases will comewith them – the new FAO report on the European and Central Asian region reveals.

Due to the economic development and increasing average income, hunger in Europe and in Central Asia has almost completely disappeared. But as countries become more affluent, changing consumption patterns are giving rise to other health threats. This “food insecurity transition” is documented in a new report released today by FAO.

The report points to a pattern whereby countries progress from dealing predominantly with undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, to coping with degenerative diseases associated with increased dietary fat, sugar, meat and dairy, and processed foods. This transition is often accompanied by a more sedentary lifestyle.