The main message from the 23rd International Congress on Nutrition is clear: Health policies cannot be postponed

Rising obesity on one side, chronic malnutrition on the other. At the 23rd International Congress on Nutrition, scientists highlighted sustainable food as the only way out of global health. Held in Paris from August 24-29, in collaboration with the Federation of European Nutrition Societies, the French Nutrition Federation, and the International Union of Nutritional Sciences, the congress, held every four years, is the largest gathering of nutritional sciences that shapes the global agenda.

This year's congress, whose main theme was "Sustainable Food for Global Health," brought together nearly 4,000 academics on a wide range of topics, from basic research and clinical applications to public health and social impacts. Global data shared at the congress revealed the extent of the nutrition crisis facing humanity:

- By 2022, 43 percent of the world's population will be overweight and 16 percent will be obese.

Obesity rates have doubled since 1990, with a fourfold increase among adolescents.

- It is predicted that by 2050, more than half of adults and one-third of children and adolescents will be overweight or obese.

- 19.8 million people died from cardiovascular diseases in 2022. (One-third of all deaths.)

Obesity causes over 1.6 million premature deaths annually, more than traffic accidents.

149 million children are chronically malnourished, 45 million are acutely malnourished, and 37 million are overweight or obese.

More than half of children under 5 and two-thirds of women of reproductive age are deficient in essential nutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin A.

- 685 million people worldwide still struggle with malnutrition, with Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia being the most vulnerable regions.

This table shows that both excess (obesity) and insufficiency problems exist side by side in global food systems.

Turkey Session: A special session devoted to Turkey at the congress was held by the Sabri Ülker Foundation Scientific Committee under the title "Initiatives to Improve Public Health in Turkey." Dr. Julian Stowell, a member of the Foundation's Scientific Committee, presented information on Turkey's health indicators. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes rose from 6.6 percent in 1998 to 14.1 percent in 2010. Today, 70 percent of deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular disease, cancer). Turkey had the highest obesity rate in Europe in 2016: 66.8 percent of its population was overweight, and 32.1 percent was obese. Büyüktuncer Demirel, Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Hacette University, emphasized that misinformation and fad diets are creating an "infodemic" in the field of nutrition, misleading individuals and eroding trust in scientists. Demirel highlighted the importance of nutritional literacy in solving global nutrition-related problems and emphasized that professional misinformation can also reduce trust in science.

PREVENTIVE APPROACH

Prof. Dr. Serhat Ünal, a faculty member in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, introduced the "Nutrition and Nutrition Communication" training programs for healthcare professionals. He noted that the programs, aimed at family physicians, internal medicine specialists, and pharmacists, have reached more than 20,000 healthcare professionals and that a preventative approach is critical in combating chronic diseases.

Prof. Dr. Baran Aksakal, Head of the Department of Public Health at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, revealed that health literacy in Türkiye is "insufficiently limited" at 63.7 percent. He said this deficiency directly impacts basic skills such as meal planning, label reading, and budgeting.

So, what's being done? The Sabri Ülker Foundation has brought to the international public the steps Türkiye has taken in the face of this situation:

The Balanced Nutrition Project has been implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education since 2011. It has reached more than 7 million students, parents, and teachers in 25 provinces. It promotes healthy eating habits and water consumption in children.

Education for Healthcare Professionals: More than 20,000 professionals have accessed up-to-date nutrition information through nutrition training programs designed for family physicians, internal medicine specialists, and pharmacists. Ninety-eight percent of participants found the training "useful," and 96% said it should be included in medical school curricula.

Food Literacy Summit: The summit, to be held for the first time in 2025, will strengthen Turkey's fight against information pollution.

Sabri Ülker Science Award: The award, which has supported young scientists since 2015, is given for groundbreaking projects in the field of nutrition and healthy living.

Scientific Publications and Platforms: The public is guided to accurate information through “Science Speaks This” video series and articles.