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Good morning and welcome to this workshop on nutrition and NCDs!
I want to begin by thanking you for being here – as key opinion leaders, you are essential partners in promoting healthier diets and food environments.
As all of you know, Vietnamese cuisine is known for fresh ingredients, and abundant fruit and vegetables.
Yet here, as in many countries, we are seeing rising consumption of very unhealthy foods – especially ultra‑processed foods, fast foods and sugary drinks, all products which are high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.
This shift is a major driver of the country’s growing burden of noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory disease- the consequences of which many of you see in your clinical practices every day.
The Government is shifting from treating disease to preventing it, and has introduced several important measures to promote healthy diets, which WHO is proud to support.
The purpose of today’s workshop is to engage all of you in these efforts. And so I’d like to highlight three very concrete areas where you can help.
First, you can help share credible, accessible information about nutrition through your own channels and platforms. When you share clear facts about sugary drinks, salt intake and other topics, you help audiences make better choices.
For example, many people do not realise that a 330 ml can of sweetened fizzy drink can contain 10 teaspoons of sugar, nearly the entire WHO-recommended maximum daily intake for an adult.
And almost half of people in Viet Nam do not eat the recommended 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day.
Second, you can share information about, and help advocate for, evidence-based policy measures:
- For example, front‑of‑pack nutrition labels help consumers make healthier choices by turning complex nutrient information into clear warnings.
- Another example is restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children.
Please, help us to advocate for these kinds of evidence-based policies.
Third, please remain alert to attempts by the food and beverage industry to oppose, delay or weaken any changes- and join us in calling them out.
Later today, we will share common myths promoted by industry – and the evidence that counters them.
I hope today’s workshop gives you useful insights and tools for your content.
When KOLs share clear, accurate information, you help people make healthier choices and support Viet Nam’s long‑term development.
WHO is proud to work alongside you. Together, we can help build a healthier and safer Viet Nam.
Xin cảm ơn!