Overweight and obesity rates in urban areas exceed alarming levels

According to Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan, the rate of overweight and obesity in urban areas has exceeded the alarm level. Meanwhile, malnutrition in mountainous areas remains high, with 38% of children stunted in some areas. This shows a reality of malnutrition in remote areas, and overweight in developed urban areas - where the trend of consuming processed foods, soft drinks and sedentary lifestyles is increasingly popular, especially among young people.

Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan advised: "From today, everyone should start with small changes - a healthier meal, an hour of exercise every day to create a big change for the whole society". This is not just a call, but an affirmation that nutrition is not a distant field or the sole responsibility of the health sector. It is an action every day, from each family meal, to the way schools organize meals for students, and the way each young person chooses their breakfast.

Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan said that scientific nutrition is the foundation for the health, stature and intelligence of each individual and the whole nation. In recent times, the Ministry of Health has implemented many key policies to promote a reasonable diet, notably the National Nutrition Strategy for the period 2021-2030. This strategy aims to ensure a diverse diet and food safety for all population groups, especially focusing on children, pregnant women and vulnerable communities.

In addition, programs such as “Nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life” and “Nutrition and Development” Week have become annual activities to raise awareness and practice proper nutrition among the entire population. In particular, the Ministry of Health has issued “10 tips for proper nutrition by 2030” to encourage people to eat a variety of foods, reduce fast food consumption and maintain an active lifestyle.

Not stopping at the national level, Vietnam has also proactively integrated internationally by joining the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement (SUN) since 2014 and signing the ASEAN Joint Declaration on Ending Malnutrition since 2017. These efforts demonstrate Vietnam's determination to implement Sustainable Development Goal No. 2: to eradicate hunger and end all forms of malnutrition by 2030.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ty-le-thua-can-beo-phi-tai-cac-do-thi-vuot-muc-bao-dong-post879547.html