Child obesity, salt intake reduction, nutritional labeling discussed at Dubai Nutrition Conference

International and regional experts in applied nutrition from the UK, Ireland, Germany, USA, Australia, Serbia, Sudan, Iran, India, Kuwait and the UAE gathered on Monday for the first Dubai International Conference on Applied Nutrition to discuss nutritional challenges including child obesity, salt intake reduction, and nutritional labeling.

Khalid Mohammed Sharif, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Environment, Health and Safety Control Sector, opened the two-day conference, organised by the Food Safety Department of Dubai Municipality.

The first of its kind conference in the UAE is aimed at enhancing the knowledge on all aspects of applied nutrition and its effects on human health as well as the health problems due to widespread wrong dietary habits that lead to heart diseases, obesity, diabetes and other diseases related to food.

Sharif, who delivered the opening speech on behalf of the Director General of Dubai Municipality, said the conference follows the recent restructuring of the Municipality Food Safety Department resulting in the creation of a specialised section for Applied Nutrition as the Municipality sensed the importance of this area, which has become a top priority for many countries in the light of the health problems that are experienced by many globally due to changing food consumption patterns.

He said that the conference is also in line with the UAE National Agenda 2021, which focuses on lifestyle related diseases and the youth segment. Sharif said the conference would discuss wide ranging topics, most importantly the strategies to deal with the contemporary nutrition challenges with a focus on the children's segment as well as the global and local challenges in regulating the saturated fat and salt consumption, in addition to the latest global and regional developments in the field of nutritional labeling.

Tim Baker, Head Teacher, Charlton Manor Primary School, member of School Food Plan Alliance and National Child Measurement Program Panel, UK gave the keynote address in the opening session on the challenges, costs, and solutions of childhood obesity.

Baker, who praised the lead taken by Dubai in reducing the rate of obesity, said the worldwide obesity rate is now more than double that of 1980. "The main reason for that are the advent of new technologies like mobile phones, Internet, social media networks, and advanced games that reduces physical activity, especially among the children and the increased consumption of fast food, which carry more saturated fat and salt," he said.

Baker said childhood obesity is a complex problem of enormous proportions, influenced by macro-environmental as well as individual factors. "Stopping and reversing the tide of obesity requires a multi-factorial, multi-sectorial and multi-stakeholder approach," he pointed out.

During the first symposium of the opening day, Gloria Friday, also from Charlton Manor Primary School, UK, joined Baker to talk about the topic, "Creating a Healthy and Vibrant School Food Culture." It was followed by a session on creating and delivering successful and practical food education, presented by Myles Bremner, Director of Programmes, Jamie Oliver Food Foundation and Former Director of the School Food Plan, UK.

Rocco Renaldi of the World Federation of Advertisers talked about the international industry action and perspectives on non-communicable diseases, while Prof. Sidiga Washi, Director of the Nutrition Center for Training and Research School of Health Sciences and the Quality Assurance and Institutional Assessment Office, Ahfad University for Women, Sudan, presented the topic, "Promoting healthy eating among school children: some examples and the way forward."

The panel discussion of the day was also participated by Hamid Yahya from the Schools and Educational Institution Health Services of Dubai Health Authority and Habiba Ali of the UAE University, AlAin.

The second symposium of the day debated international and regional approaches to nutritional labeling and health claims on foods. The symposium also had panel discussions on the trends in nutrition information and front-of-pack labeling, nutrition and health claims in EU and comparison with the proposed GCC standards, as well as on an App to make healthier food choices and labeling as a risk management.

The conference will have a total six symposia and panel discussions participated by the elite of the most famous specialists and experts in the world.

The exhibition, held alongside the conference, showcases some of the best initiatives taken in schools and communities to promote a good and healthy food culture.

The conference also showcased the local initiatives to promote healthy food options in restaurants as Dubai Municipality shares the stage with local food businesses to come up with ideas and initiatives that can enhance healthy food options in Dubai. Professionals who work in the field of nutrition, quality assurance, food safety, as well as regulatory authorities, academia, students and the food industry are attending the conference.