Eating healthy protects you from underweight, micronutrient deficiencies and obesity, as well as diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. An unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are leading global risks to health.
The increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns. People are now consuming more foods high in energy, fats, free sugars and salt/sodium, and many people do not eat enough fruit, vegetables and other dietary fibre such as whole grains.
The basic principles of a healthy diet include the following