Bad eating habits produce a health cost of billions of dollars, according to the FAO

The organization asked “act urgently“to transform agri-food systems and modify the trillions of dollars linked to productivity losses caused by diseases derived from diet such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and others.

Most of this sum is invisibleto which are added the health costs already known, such as medical expenses, which in itself doubles the real healthcare cost of our food.

TO world levelthe impact on health represents the 70% of all hidden costs of food production, which must also be taken into account that they integrate social and environmental costs.

What diets have the greatest impact?

The subsistence allowance responsible for half of this health cost are those diets low in whole grainswhich are replaced by refined products (something quite common except in some African countries or India).

To this problematic diet are added the low fruit dietsa global problem, and diets rich in salt that produce the greatest impacts as they are responsible for half of this health cost.

Also added to the list are diets high in processed meats (such as sausages and sausages), in red meatand poor in fruits, vegetables and legumes.

What is the cost of this food?

Depending on the country, this hidden cargo represents up to 10% of GDPespecially in those emerging States, which according to the report, encompasses 153 countries and to 99% of the world’s population.

The estimate made is minimal, since the calculation does not include malnutrition phenomenawhich also have a high cost, emphasizes the FAO, while highlighting “the need for more national commitments ambitious“at all levels, from producers to consumers.

The organization warns the risk that the changes fall only on the farmerswho are on the “front line”, and who must have better access to technologies and fair remuneration for their ecosystem services.