Day 023 - 13 Sep 94 - Page 17


     
     1        that what they mean, in your view?
     2        A.  Well, what they are saying is they believe that
     3        dietary factors are now known to influence the development
     4        of a wide range of chronic diseases.  What they are
     5        suggesting is that by the year 2000, these are obviously
     6        going to be greater problems.
     7
     8   Q.   Because they are moving into countries where they are not
     9        so much of a problem at the moment?
    10        A.  I would say that is what they are assuming, yes.
    11
    12   Q.   Then it goes on to talk about the type of diet:  "The
    13        'affluent' type of diet that often accompanies economic
    14        development is energy-dense.  People consuming these diets
    15        characteristically have a high intake of fat (especially
    16        saturated fats) and free sugars and a relatively low
    17        intake of complex carbohydrates (from starchy,
    18        fibre-containing foods).  Such diets are well established
    19        in developed countries, and are now becoming more common
    20        in most developing countries, where they are typically
    21        adopted first by the urban, upper- and middle-class
    22        population."
    23
    24        I want to emphasise the next bit:  "This change in diet
    25        can now be linked to the increasing incidence of chronic
    26        diseases and of premature death.  Evidence suggests that
    27        many of these premature deaths and disabilities should be
    28        preventable by changes in diet and in other aspects of
    29        life-style."  So they are not only concerned with diet,
    30        but other aspects as well.
    31
    32        "Governments and communities, in both developing and
    33        developed countries, should act now to reduce the future
    34        burden of these diseases.  Their prevention or reduction
    35        is both a social responsibility and an economic
    36        necessity."
    37
    38        I am just trying to understand your position.
    39        I understand that you have -- would it be fair to say -- a
    40        fairly, I cannot think of a good word, "cynical" might not
    41        be a good word.
    42        A.  I hope not.
    43
    44   Q.   In a positive sense, in that your view is that all the
    45        options are open because you are involved in research and
    46        treatment, yes?
    47        A.  Yes.
    48
    49   Q.   But in terms of the World Health Organisation they are not
    50        a tendency, are they?  They are taking the overall view of 
    51        medical and scientific evidence, yes?  Is that their role? 
    52        A.  Not necessarily.  You see, one of the problems is that 
    53        there will be a committee which has been set up to produce
    54        this report.  The members of that committee themselves
    55        will have their own individual concepts.  You cannot say
    56        that these people are just going to -- these people will
    57        put forward their interpretation of how they see the
    58        evidence.  You know, they are people, they are not just
    59        automatons who are going to sit there.
    60

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