Strategies to prevent the metabolic syndrome at the population level: roleof authorities and non-governmental bodies

The remarkable increase over the past 40 years in some chronic diseases, in cluding the metabolic syndrome, has increased the demand for government and international policies to encourage various approaches to decrease the ris k of these diseases. There are some prerequisites for working out successfu l national food and nutrition policies. Firstly, it is necessary to have a clear picture of the dietary pattern in a country and its associated public health problems. Based on these data, nutrient recommendations and goals a re formulated by international or national scientific committees. Governmen ts should translate these nutrient goals into food goals and eventually int o national dietary guidelines. The means by which the national authorities can implement a nutrition policy include fortification and supplementation. Equally important are educational and informative tools, such as labelling on the packed food products including information about ingredients and nu trient content. With respect to the metabolic syndrome, this implies nutrie nt recommendations regarding the intake of fat and carbohydrates (energy pe r cent) and dietary fibre; dietary guidelines regarding balance between ene rgy intake and expenditure; decreased consumption of products rich in fat a nd increased consumption of cereals and other products rich in dietary fibr e, etc.; recommendations from the authorities regarding nutrient labelling (content of fat and dietary fibre) on relevant products; and nutrient and h ealth claims and other aids (symbols) as tools to make it easier for consum ers to select the appropriate food products.