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The Province
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Province
Why WHO's diet guidelines are unrealistic for many people around the world
The World Health Organization's heart-health guidelines overlook obstacles faced in low- and middle-income countries, says SFU expert SFU professor of health sciences Scott Lear. An unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are leading global risks to health, according to the World Health Organization. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. 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Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors But the problem, an SFU researcher says, is that advice is based on rich-world premises: In high-wage countries, fruit and vegetables don't take as much out of household income, and an hour at the gym or paddling after work are generally affordable choices. 'Physical activity patterns are clearly different based on the development of a country, and based on individual or household income,' said Scott Lear, professor of health sciences and chair of the Pfizer/Heart and Stroke Foundation's cardiovascular prevention research. 'We can't always take our lessons from high-income countries, develop (international) guidelines, and then apply them to what is 80 per cent of the rest of the world.' The study Lear was part of — Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology, or PURE — began in India in 2002 and grew to include 28 countries on five continents, with 212,000 people participating, examining society's influences on chronic noncommunicable disease around the world. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Lear's focus was on cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 80 per cent of deaths. The WHO's diet guidelines suggest at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day (excluding starchy roots), but that's just unrealistic for a lot of people, Lear said. 'It's another thing I found interesting is the finding about fruits and vegetables,' he said, 'and how farmers in low-income countries are priced out. 'Field workers say if they eat what they grow, they lose so much money by not selling it. 'For many of these farmers, getting the recommended minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day would eat up 50 per cent of their household income.' Another thing that is mainly taken for granted by the WHO, Lear said, is that any movement is good movement. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Tell that to someone working in a field or mine all day, or a stone mason. 'I'm looking out my window and they're landscaping. One of the guys with a sledgehammer was breaking up the patio. He spent hours doing that,' Lear said. 'You wouldn't go to the gym and do hours of endless bicep curls or bench presses.' Then there's the commute to work. In lower-income countries, a lot of people take an hour and a half or more going each way, often by foot. 'There's a stark contrast between a daily sidewalk stroll in Vancouver's West End and walking to work in New Delhi, the world's most polluted city, where many people cannot afford to drive and public transit is lacking,' Lear said. 'We can't assume that life is the same everywhere. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The environments in which people live and the kind of work they do makes a huge difference to their health.' PURE data is collected every three years and includes a core survey, physical measurements such as blood pressure, weight, height, lung capacity and waist-hip circumference, and a questionnaire. On top of focusing on exercise and diet, Lear's study identified several other causes behind the causes of cardiovascular disease worldwide, including nutrition, education, tobacco use, air pollution, climate change, social isolation and access to medication, treatment and health care. About 87 per cent of PURE participants live in low- or middle-income countries, uniquely positioning the study to examine individual risk factors related to urbanization, Lear said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Although these findings are based on global data, they also reflect the microcosms of different regions within a single city, or region, he said. Lear joined the study 20 years ago. 'Early in my career, I thought, okay, everybody should be eating these foods, everybody should be physically active, and everything will be great. 'As I participated in the study, I started to realize that's a very high-income-country privilege. It's been eye-opening for me.' gordmcintyre@ Read More For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to – a member of the Postmedia Network. Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Canucks Hockey Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Why WHO's diet guidelines are unrealistic for many people around the world
An unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are leading global risks to health, according to the World Health Organization . But the problem, an SFU researcher says, is that advice is based on rich-world premises: In high-wage countries, fruit and vegetables don't take as much out of household income, and an hour at the gym or paddling after work are generally affordable choices. 'Physical activity patterns are clearly different based on the development of a country, and based on individual or household income,' said Scott Lear , professor of health sciences and chair of the Pfizer/Heart and Stroke Foundation's cardiovascular prevention research. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'We can't always take our lessons from high-income countries, develop (international) guidelines, and then apply them to what is 80 per cent of the rest of the world.' The study Lear was part of — Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology, or PURE — began in India in 2002 and grew to include 28 countries on five continents, with 212,000 people participating, examining society's influences on chronic noncommunicable disease around the world. Lear's focus was on cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 80 per cent of deaths. The WHO's diet guidelines suggest at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day (excluding starchy roots), but that's just unrealistic for a lot of people, Lear said. 'It's another thing I found interesting is the finding about fruits and vegetables,' he said, 'and how farmers in low-income countries are priced out. 'Field workers say if they eat what they grow, they lose so much money by not selling it. 'For many of these farmers, getting the recommended minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day would eat up 50 per cent of their household income.' Another thing that is mainly taken for granted by the WHO, Lear said, is that any movement is good movement. Tell that to someone working in a field or mine all day, or a stone mason. 'I'm looking out my window and they're landscaping. One of the guys with a sledgehammer was breaking up the patio. He spent hours doing that,' Lear said. 'You wouldn't go to the gym and do hours of endless bicep curls or bench presses.' Then there's the commute to work. In lower-income countries, a lot of people take an hour and a half or more going each way, often by foot. 'There's a stark contrast between a daily sidewalk stroll in Vancouver's West End and walking to work in New Delhi, the world's most polluted city, where many people cannot afford to drive and public transit is lacking,' Lear said. 'We can't assume that life is the same everywhere. 'The environments in which people live and the kind of work they do makes a huge difference to their health.' PURE data is collected every three years and includes a core survey, physical measurements such as blood pressure, weight, height, lung capacity and waist-hip circumference, and a questionnaire. On top of focusing on exercise and diet, Lear's study identified several other causes behind the causes of cardiovascular disease worldwide, including nutrition, education, tobacco use, air pollution, climate change, social isolation and access to medication, treatment and health care. About 87 per cent of PURE participants live in low- or middle-income countries, uniquely positioning the study to examine individual risk factors related to urbanization, Lear said. Although these findings are based on global data, they also reflect the microcosms of different regions within a single city, or region, he said. Lear joined the study 20 years ago. 'Early in my career, I thought, okay, everybody should be eating these foods, everybody should be physically active, and everything will be great. 'As I participated in the study, I started to realize that's a very high-income-country privilege. It's been eye-opening for me.' gordmcintyre@ For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to – a member of the Postmedia Network.
Ottawa Citizen
27-05-2025
- Health
- Ottawa Citizen
Why WHO's diet guidelines are unrealistic for many people around the world
Article content An unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are leading global risks to health, according to the World Health Organization. Article content Article content But the problem, an SFU researcher says, is that advice is based on rich-world premises: In high-wage countries, fruit and vegetables don't take as much out of household income, and an hour at the gym or paddling after work are generally affordable choices. Article content Article content 'Physical activity patterns are clearly different based on the development of a country, and based on individual or household income,' said Scott Lear, professor of health sciences and chair of the Pfizer/Heart and Stroke Foundation's cardiovascular prevention research. Article content Article content 'We can't always take our lessons from high-income countries, develop (international) guidelines, and then apply them to what is 80 per cent of the rest of the world.' Article content The study Lear was part of — Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology, or PURE — began in India in 2002 and grew to include 28 countries on five continents, with 212,000 people participating, examining society's influences on chronic noncommunicable disease around the world. Article content Lear's focus was on cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 80 per cent of deaths. Article content Article content The WHO's diet guidelines suggest at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day (excluding starchy roots), but that's just unrealistic for a lot of people, Lear said. Article content Article content 'It's another thing I found interesting is the finding about fruits and vegetables,' he said, 'and how farmers in low-income countries are priced out. Article content 'Field workers say if they eat what they grow, they lose so much money by not selling it. Article content 'For many of these farmers, getting the recommended minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day would eat up 50 per cent of their household income.' Article content Another thing that is mainly taken for granted by the WHO, Lear said, is that any movement is good movement.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Exercise and diet reduce the risk of heart diseases, but can everyone afford it? Expert weighs in
New research indicates that global heart-health guidelines, often based on data from high-income nations, may not be universally applicable. Professor Scott Lear from Simon Fraser University highlights that factors like environment and socioeconomic status significantly impact cardiovascular disease risk. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. CVD contributes to 80 per cent of deaths in low and middle-income countries. Lifestyle factors can significantly contribute to these diseases. One way to slash the risk is to exercise and eat a healthy diet. But can everyone afford these changes, especially those living in low and middle-income countries? These privileged prescriptions may not be for everyone, says a leading cardiovascular disease researcher from Simon Fraser University. Exercise and healthy food - A luxury? International heart-health guidelines are primarily based on research from high-income countries and often overlook upstream causes of CVD, says Scott Lear, a health sciences professor at SFU and the Pfizer/Heart & Stroke Foundation Chair in Cardiovascular Prevention Research. The review is published in the European Heart Journal . 'The world extends beyond high-income countries when we think about universal recommendations like 75 minutes of exercise each week or getting five servings of fruit and vegetables every day, 'Lear, the lead author of a new review examining the impact of social, environmental, and policy factors on cardiovascular disease globally, said in a release. He pointed out how getting even 75 minutes of exercise a week can be different for people living in different parts of the world. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo 'There's a stark contrast between a daily sidewalk stroll in Vancouver's West End and walking to work in New Delhi, the world's most polluted city, where many people cannot afford to drive and public transit is lacking. We cannot assume that life is the same everywhere. The environments in which people live and the kind of work they do make a huge difference to their health,' he noted. The review paper looked at the underlying factors contributing to cardiovascular disease (CVD), from the data taken from the ongoing Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study, a global research collaboration that has gathered information from high, middle, and low-income countries since 2002. The study has more than 212,000 participants across 28 countries on five continents. The study data is collected every three years and includes a core survey, physical measurements (such as height, weight, blood pressure, waist-hip circumference, and lung capacity), and additional questionnaires targeting specific research interests, including CVD. Along with the physical activity environments, Lear's review study also looked at several other causes behind the causes of CVD worldwide, including nutrition, education, tobacco use, air pollution, climate change, social isolation, and access to medication, treatment, and health care. Exercise is sometimes a privilege Lack of exercise is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but the type and context of physical activity people do also play a role. In the review, Lear found that people in high-income countries reported the most physical activity, even though more than 22% of them sat for over eight hours a day. In contrast, only 4.4% of people in low-income countries sat that long, but their total activity was still lower. The key difference, Lear explains, is the nature of the activity. In low-income countries, physical activity is usually part of daily chores, work, or transportation, and not something done for fun or exercise. RFK Jr. Openly Tells World To Exit 'Bloated' WHO As Global Health Officials Watch Silently A healthy diet is crucial to reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This diet should include fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, and dairy. Lear reported that regardless of country income, fruits and vegetables were more readily available and more affordable in urban areas. But he was also surprised to find that consumption of fruits and vegetables is lower in low-income countries because farmers can't afford to eat their own produce. 'This is a real eye opener. For many of these farmers, getting the recommended minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day would eat up 50 per cent of their household income,' Lear notes. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
