AFRICA: WELLNESS FOR PEACE: Campaign to Address Obesity: 'Junk Food' - Bad for Your Health, Bad for Your Rights, Warns UN Expert

allAfrica.com: Africa: 'Junk Food' - Bad for Your Health, Bad for Your Rights, Warns UN Expert: "The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Anand Grover, blamed junk food - ultra-processed and ready to eat, but energy-dense and containing "empty calories" devoid of nutritional value -for the global obesity epidemic and urged the international community to deal with the alarming increase in deaths from diet-related diseases.

Presenting his final final report to the UN Human Rights Council, which began its 26th session in Geneva yesterday, the Special Rapporteur warned delegations about disturbing figures, according to which 2.1 billion people worldwide are overweight or obese, and at least 2.8 million die every year because of their weight.

"The culprit is 'junk food,'" Mr. Grover said. "Containing high levels of sugar, salt, trans-fats and saturated fats, this 'junk' has unfortunately replaced healthy foods in our diets."

Primarily responsible for the burgeoning rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases across the world, "junk food is not a simple public health issue or a medical concern, it poses a serious challenge to our lives, our health and our rights," he added."



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