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Obesity and Malnutrition: Corporate Responsibility

Every third person on earth is either overweight or underweight. This is the result of the “Access to Nutrition Index” of the independent “Access to Nutrition Foundation” (ATNF) from the Netherlands.

The consequential damage of being overweight, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer, caused damage to the economy of 2 trillion US dollars worldwide in 2014, which corresponds to 3 percent of global gross domestic product. According to the study, 2 billion people worldwide are overweight.

On the other hand, 800 million people do not have enough to eat. But even people who actually have enough on their plate can experience “hidden hunger” if the food doesn’t contain enough micronutrients. Around 2 billion people in the world are affected by this type of malnutrition.

The report, published on January 13, 2016, examines the impact of multinational food companies on the world’s food supply: How healthy are the food companies? Are they getting too much sugar, too much salt, or too much fat? Are they cheap enough for poor people to be able to afford them? Does the food provide enough essential nutrients? And: To what extent are the companies working together with governments and organizations to combat the imbalance in global nutrition?

The ranking of the corporations

The ATNF creates a ranking based on their evaluations. First place: The Unilever group, which includes Knorr, Langnese, and Bertolli, followed by Nestlé (including Buitoni, Herta, Kit Kat) and Danone.

As justification, an official statement from the ATNF states that the three leading companies have made a clear commitment to solving global nutritional issues and are putting this into practice with various measures. Nevertheless, “all the companies examined still have a long way to go”.

Inge Kauer, Managing Director of the ATNF, said: “Precisely because of the worldwide distribution of their products, food, and beverage companies have a responsibility when it comes to combating malnutrition and malnutrition.” However, the trend toward healthier food is not for the companies not only a matter of social responsibility but also an opportunity for development, because “more and more consumers around the world want to eat healthier food.”

About the Access to Nutrition Index

The Access to Nutrition Index is compiled by the non-profit Access to Nutrition Foundation (ATNF). The organization, based in the Netherlands, examines the extent to which the major food companies influence the world’s nutrition and ranks the behavior of the food giants according to certain parameters, such as how healthy and how accessible the food from each company is. ATNF’s work is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. You can read a summary of the report here.

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Obesity in Children: Triggers and Treatment of Obesity

The widespread disease of obesity does not stop at children. The causes are completely different. Health problems should be prevented at all costs.

Beware of obesity: Identifying obesity in children and possible causes of obesity

Determining the Body Mass Index (BMI) helps to determine whether children are already overweight. There is also an extra measure for boys and a measure for girls, since the growth curves of the two sexes differ. You can find the exact instructions for determining the BMI and the BMI calculator on the website of the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA). However, if you are unsure about your own calculations, you should definitely consult a pediatrician.

There are many possible reasons for obesity in children. Lifestyle and eating habits often play a decisive role. In our fast-moving society, ready meals or fast food are often used, which usually contain more fat, salt or sugar. The classic, conscious and valued family meals, on the other hand, are on the decline. Children, in particular, unknowingly consume far more calories when ready meals or fast food end up on the table. Especially since various ingredients in such foods lead to a kind of addiction and children – but also adults – can end up in a vicious circle, as a study by the University of Austin shows. Since the substances in the food “fool” the body with a feeling of happiness, it demands fast food more and more often. The result: More consumption increases weight.

Snacking on sugary and fatty snacks and lack of exercise are other reasons for obesity. Sweet soft drinks such as cola or lemonade are often underestimated as the secret cause of obesity in children. There is a lot of hidden sugar in these drinks. Illnesses, psychological problems or the use of medication can also be possible causes of obesity in children. Furthermore, it can also be due to the hereditary material and genetics, as well as to previous gestational diabetes in the mother.

What are the consequences of obesity for children and what is the best way to counteract them?

If the child is overweight due to their living and eating habits, the bad habits and the associated consequences can drag on into adulthood and the person will have problems with the consequences of early childhood imprinting for the rest of their lives. Children from socially disadvantaged families and children with a migration background are more often overweight than children who grow up in stable family circumstances.

Already a quarter of obese – i.e. very overweight – children have problems with their sugar metabolism. You are on the way to developing type 2 diabetes at a young age. In addition, the liver and fat levels in the blood are usually increased, and blood pressure is much too high. Knee and back problems, arthrosis and strokes can also be health consequences of being overweight. Being overweight also increases the risk of heart attack, sleep apnea and various types of cancer. Because of all these risk factors, children who are obese and remain obese into adulthood have a lower life expectancy than people who are not overweight.

An energy balance should be created to optimally combat obesity. This means that more calories should not be taken in that are not ultimately used. The be-all and end-all for long-term success is regular and frequent exercise. Here, the BZgA recommends 90 minutes a day for children and differentiates between sport and everyday exercise. Endurance sports such as swimming and cycling are easy on the joints and very effective. A change in diet is also essential on the road to success. Above all, the avoidance of industrial sugar should be aimed at. An optimized, healthy mixed diet can lead to a healthy life in the long term. Since children who are used to sugar and greasy food can rarely be persuaded to eat healthily, it is advisable to consult an appropriate nutrition guide.

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