70% of the Peruvian adult population aged 30 to 59 years is overweight and obese, according to experts from the National Institute of Health (INS).
“According to the National Center for Food and Nutrition (Cenan) of the INS, both illnesses also affect 42.4% of young Peruvians, 32.3% of schoolchildren, 33.1% of older adults and 23.9% of adolescents”, La Hora Peru informed.
César Domínguez, an INS specialist, warned that 29% of people in Peru consume junk food at least once a week and, in the case of fried foods, 87.1% consume them with the same frequency.
Also, nationwide, people consume excessive amounts of salt and only the minimum amount of the required fiber in a balanced diet.
“Faced with these figures, INS experts consider it necessary to promote healthy eating habits and lifestyles, far from the excessive consumption of saturated fats, trans fats, sugar and sodium present in large quantities, generally in products called junk food”, the aforementioned media said.
The National Institute of Health is developing an educational campaign to promote messages for better eating habits among Peruvians. It is called “Dietary Guidelines for the Peruvian Population“, and it consists of a document prepared by the Cenam.
