Bringing government sectors together to address noncommunicable diseases: Portugal’s interministerial healthy eating strategy

• Autor(a) principal: Goiana-da-Silva, Francisco
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/28732
• topic: NCDs, PUBLIC HEALTH, PORTUGAL, HEALTHY EATING, INNOVATION

Background: Unhealthy eating habits are among the main risk factors associated with the loss of healthy life years in the Portuguese population. Excessive consumption of fat, sugar and salt is the main factor contributing to mortality. In fact, eight out of ten deaths in European countries are caused by noncommunicable diseases. Implementation: To tackle the complex challenges brought about by noncommunicable diseases, a Health in All Policies approach was implemented. The role of behavioural determinants in morbidity and premature mortality led the Portuguese Government to recognize the promotion of healthy eating as a priority by involving several ministries. Results: The Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy Eating (2017– 2020) devised by the Portuguese Government identifies a broad set of health promotion and disease prevention measures. Furthermore, it provides the framework for several other initiatives that have already been implemented or are being implemented at the moment. Conclusion: The current Portuguese Government has shown political commitment to implementing the Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy Eating and significant achievements are evident merely a few months into its implementation. However, if Portugal is to maintain the current speed of implementing this strategy, future governments must ensure continued commitment with equal clear-sighted long-term national policies. Unless future problems are anticipated and planned for, overwhelming health care challenges may threaten entire societies.