Human Nutritional Requirement
Dr.Amean A. Yasir
Introduction
Knowledge of human energy and nutrient
requirements is essential for the complete
assessment of food supplies and nutritional needs,
enabling governments to monitor nutrition
programmers, and to plan development activities in
general. The Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (FAO), in conjunction with the
World Health Organization (WHO) and United
Nations University (UNU), organize biennial expert
consultations on nutrient requirements.
The primary purpose of all expert meetings is to
advise the Directors-General of FAO and WHO on
scientific issues related to energy and nutrients so
that appropriate recommendations for action can be
formulated. The recommendations and guidelines,
which result from these consultations, serve to
enable governments and organizations to better
plan, monitor and evaluate nutrition programs and
policies.
FAO sponsors and publishes documents relating to
the practical applications and uses of the
requirements in the context of nutrition
Diet and Chronic Diseases
The joint report on Diet, Nutrition and the
Prevention of Chronic Diseases was
undertaken as part of the ongoing FAO and
WHO collaborative program of expert
consultations on human nutrition. The team of global experts identifies the burden of
chronic diseases - which include:
cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes
and obesity - as rapidly increasing worldwide.
This Report is significant because it contains
the best available scientific evidence on the
relationship of diet, nutrition and physical
activity to chronic diseases, based on the
collective judgment of a group of experts
with a global perspective.
The Committee on Agriculture (COAG), which
conducts periodic reviews and appraisals of
agricultural and nutritional problems in order
to propose concerted action by Member
Nations and the Organization, convened a
special session at the request of member
nations, to seek advice on FAO s follow-up to
the report.