Healthy nutrition is critical for preventing diet-related risk factors, such as overweight and obesity, and the associated noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
Consumption of foods and beverages high in critical nutrients (salt/sodium, sugar, saturated fats, and trans fats) has been associated with an increased risk of diet-related risk factors and associated NCDs, as well as all wasting, stunting, and deficiency diseases.
Evidence has also demonstrated the importance of proper breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and sustainable, healthy food systems.
Through policies, legislation, and strategies on healthy nutrition, malnutrition in all its forms can be prevented.
PAHO provides leadership and technical cooperation to Member States on healthy nutrition, such as breastfeeding and complementary feeding, front-of-package labelling, obesity prevention, salt reduction, and elimination of trans-fatty acids.
PAHO promotes, generates, and disseminates information on these key topics, evidence-based policies and interventions, and monitors trends.
The Pan American Health Organization Nutrient Profile Model is a tool to classify processed and ultra-processed food and drink products that are in excess of critical nutrients such as sugars, sodium, total fat, saturated fat, and trans-fatty acids.
The Better Care for NCDs initiative promotes nutrition and healthy diet counseling. Discover how we're transforming the approach to NCDs in primary health care.
