Noncommunicable diseases, what are they?

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, are not passed from person to person. They are of long duration and generally slow progression. The four main types of noncommunicable diseases are...

Energy Drinks Review

“The full impact of the rise in popularity of energy drinks has not yet been quantified, but the aggressive marketing of energy drinks targeted at young people, combined with limited and varied regulation have created an environment where energy drinks could pose a significant threat to public health.”

The Evolution of Obesity

During the history of human evolution the process of accumulation of body fat was being selected because it was beneficial in an environment where food was scarce and the periods in which...

EPHA highlights on the Vienna Conference on Nutrition and NCDs

At the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Nutrition and Noncommunicable Diseases in the Context of Health 2020, held in Vienna, Austria on 4-5 July 2013, European Ministers of Health renewed their commitment to fight the obesity and poor nutrition-related rise in non-communicable diseases by adopting a declaration calling for evidence-based solutions from across the Region - the so-called Vienna Declaration.

About StopNCD's

The aim of the project is to create awareness on this matter and share information, between professionals and also to the major public.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Evidence-based guidance on nutrition

10:17 AM    No comments


WHO
WHO Nutrition Guidance Expert Advisory Group (NUGAG) subgroup on diet and health
The WHO Nutrition Guidance Expert Advisory Group (NUGAG) subgroup on diet and health has just closed its 6th meeting which was held at the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen, Denmark. The NUGAG was established in 2010 to implement the new guideline development process and has met regularly since its establishment.
NUGAG consists of scientists and experts from various areas, representing all WHO regions. The subgroup focuses on updating the dietary goals for the prevention of obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
Contributing to the implementation of the political declarations of the United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs and the "WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020", the main objectives of this meeting were:
  1. to review the updated systematic reviews and asses the available evidence on saturated fatty acids (SFA) and trans-fatty acids (TFA);
  2. to update the recommendations on SFA and TFA for the prevention of NCDs;
  3. to review the issues related to replacement of SFA and TFA as public health measures related to diet, nutrition and health.
The meeting and its outcomes are important steps toward the implementation of the WHO agenda on NCDs.

From, WHO

Read More

Friday, November 8, 2013

Equity, education and health

10:26 AM    No comments

7–9 October, Odense, Denmark

  • Health promotion in schools improves learning – what action can we take?
  • Equal opportunities – how can schools contribute?
  • Policies work – why don’t we use them?
  • Interventions are more successful in well-off children – how can we extend the benefits to other children?
  • Better education, more equity, better health – what is schools’ role in achieving these?
These are some of the issues to be addressed at the 4th European Conference on Health Promoting Schools, held in Odense, Denmark. The Conference focuses on equity, education and health, and equity’s links with sustainability, social inclusion, innovation and change. It aims to consolidate, strengthen and support the sharing of research, policy and practice related to school-based health promotion across Europe, and outline what can be done to promote equity in health and education.
The 250 Conference participants include decision-makers, researchers and practitioners from the health, education and social sectors; government, nongovernmental, local and youth organizations; and academic institutions.

Research findings on child health and educational achievement

  • Overall child health status affects educational performance and attainment.
  • Evidence indicates that smoking or poor nutrition has a greater negative effect on educational outcomes than alcohol consumption or drug use.
  • Initial research has found that physical exercise has a significant positive impact on academic performance.
  • Obesity and overweight are associated negatively with educational outcomes.
  • Sleeping disorders can hinder academic performance.
Conference website

Press release – Healthy children learn best
7-10-2013

Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC)

Read More

New PhD Opportunity in NCDs, for Eastern Mediterranean Region Candidates

10:09 AM    No comments

A new PhD project and scholarship for a suitable candidate from the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) to join the Global Health Research Group at the Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh.

The link to the advertisement is:

http://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=48736

The candidate must have strong quantitative skills and have worked in a health related area within a key EMR country that has high quality of published epidemiological data in the local language or in English (e.g. Iran, Qatar, UAE).
Attached resources:

Read More