The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) launched a new initiative yesterday, to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases in the country. The initiative to reduce the consumption of fat, sugar and salt in the country will be implemented in different phases, part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to promote healthy lifestyles.
‘Fat, Sugar and Salt reduction Initiative in Qatar’ was launched in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 and the objectives of the National Plan of Action for Nutrition and Physical Activity 2017-2022.
A three workshop is being held at the Ministry to review the present situation in Qatar and find ways to develop national policies and programmes to reduce the consumption of fat, sugar and salt. Representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and MoPH address the workshop held for government and private sector food processing companies.
“The efforts of the Ministry of Public Health are based on WHO recommendations to reduce saturated and hydrogenated fats, sugar and salt and prevent the risk of common chronic non- communicable diseases such as hypertension, obesity and diabetics,” said Dr Kholood Al Mutawa (pictured), head of non Communicable Diseases at the MoPH.
“In Qatar the results of the ‘National Progressive Non-communicable Disease Screening and Risk Factors Survey’ conducted among adults showed prevalence of hypertension, over weight and obesity is higher than infectious diseases among men and women,” she added.
Dr Al Mutawa also highlighted the steps taken by Qatar to reduce the consumption of fat, salt and sugar such as working together with bakeries to limit the salt use by 30% in bread production.
The WHO recommends to reduce salt consumption to 5 grams per day and limit sugar to a maximum of 35 grams per day for adults and 25 grams for mothers and children, reduce the intake of hydrogenated fats to 1% reduce consumption of saturated fat by less than 10% of the total intake of calories.
