Ban junk food to fight diabetes, says expert

Manama : Junk food must be banned in schools and hospitals as a step to fight the prevalence of diabetes, according to Prof Nam Cho a world-renowned researcher in diabetes. 

Prevalence of diabetes has grown at a rapid rate in recent decades and the reason behind it is the changing lifestyle and diet, said Cho, who is the president of International Diabetes Federation said. 

He said that governments need to be proactive in fighting diabetes. “The government can take steps in increasing the awareness about the disease. This is something that is very important. The mass media should also be involved in this,” he told DT News.

“I would absolutely recommend banning unhealthy food in schools and hospitals. Hospitals have cafeteria with food providers making junk food available, why is that? The simple answer is that fast food is easy to prepare and convenient, but it is unhealthy,” he said. 

Speaking about the increase in diabetes cases, he said, “It is because of the lifestyle changes. Society now is more westernized now, when I say westernized I am talking about the junk food and the modernization that has led to lack of exercise. While the lifestyle change and the diet change has contributed a lot towards the increase in diabetes, things like pollution also negatively affect ones health,” he said. 

“Serving size also matters, we have a World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva in May, the theme of the meeting will be ‘junk food and serving size. We are taught to finish our meal even if we are full, but this is not healthy,” he said. 

“Diabetes is a disease which the patient has to be proactively be involved in managing the disease, the doctor cannot do it for them. The doctors can give him an insight of the disease, provide medicine and teach how to manage the disease. But it is the patient who is eating the food,” he said.