Dr. Philip James, the British chairman of the International Obesity Task Force, has blamed agricultural subsidies as being responsible for the obesity epidemic in poor countries.
"The trade policies that are currently in play are those which subsidize and distort the market to make fats and sugars cheaper and fruits and vegetables more expensive," James said at the 10th International Obesity Congress in Sydney, Australia. The increased availability of subsidized sugar and fat-based products from the United States and Europe means that the fat rates in nations.In China the obesity rates have hit the peak due to imports of cheap meat products, and soy and palm-based oils. "The health profile of China is being transformed in front of our eyes and it's an agricultural food-led imposition of huge health problems," he said.
Pakistan, India and several South Pacific countries are also battling such a problem, he said.
Source-Medindia
RAS
