As the Gambia joined the world in commemorating World Consumer Rights Day, Consumer International has reported that about 177 million children around the world are affected and already suffering from obesity and that the world faces the risk of the spread of a childhood obesity epidemic.

According to the report, unhealthy diets and a lack of physical activity are the leading causes of heart disease and diabetes, which are on the rise in developing countries such as The Gambia.

The report, which comes in the wake of growing concerns for heart diseases and unhealthy diets, further noted that eating food high in fat, sugar and salt contributes to poor health and obesity.

"Obesed children are much more likely to remain overweight as adults are likely to suffer long term health problems" the report stated.

It is against this background that the Consumer Protection Association of The Gambia (CPAG) in partnership with the National Nutrition Agency (NANA) and the National Codex Committee on food standards and safety, marked the annual World Consumer Rights Day with activities centred around the theme- "Junk food generation" which focused on the marketing of unhealthy food to children and other consumers in The Gambia.

In his keynote address at the commemoration at the NANA conference hall, Omar Ceesay, CPAG chairman, highlighted the efforts that CPAG is doing to ensure that The Gambia attains food safety and to promote consumer protection and rights so that every consumer in The Gambia becomes aware of his rights and responsibilities with regards to consumer health and food safety.

He stated that there is hope that CPAG and NANA's partnership will go a long way in ensuring that The Gambia attains food safety and protection from the growing problems associated with unhealthy diets.

For his part, Modou Phall, the executive director of NANA, made a presentation on the nutrition and obesity-related health problems in The Gambia. According to him, The Gambia is experiencing a nutritional transition and changes in food and dietary patterns and, as a result, there is a change in disease patterns making them more diet related and non-communicable.

"The kinds of food we eat now are highly processed food which go through many mechanisms during preparation and as a result, all vital nutrients and fibres are lost. We usually consume food which is high in saturated fats, high in sugar and salt, and we eat less fruits and vegetables, contributing to our growing poor health. Pot-belly is no longer a sign of good life but an indication of the presence of obesity which does not only affect us physically, but there is evidence that it also affects the brain" he said.

For his part, Dr Alieu Gaye, a diabetologist, who delivered a lecture on nutrition and diabetes, stated that people have a responsibility to the younger generation to ensure that they do not consume food that will be detrimental to their health. According to him, the nutrients that exist in this country is far much better than the ones imported into the country.

Other speakers at the occasion included Ouleye Njie Tall, principal program officer, NANA who made a presentation on balancing the safety of street vended foods and the livelihood of vendors.

Present were representatives from Gambia High, Methodist Academy and Saint Augustine's High Schools.