World Health Organization’s Global Strategy on diet, physical activity and health: the process behind the scenes

Abstract

Some aspects of the difficulties and politics behind the making of a World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health are described. The main resistance came from sections of the food industry selling products high in sugar and salt. The article describes how these industries were lobbying both directly to the WHO and indirectly via member states. Their aim was to stall the work on the WHO Global Strategy; however, the Global Strategy was endorsed at the World Health Assembly in May 2004. Keywords: diet and health; food industry; food policy; non-communicable diseases; nutrient intake; physical activity; salt; saturated fats; sugar; World Bank; World Health Organization