United Nations Addresses Chronic Disease

The United Nations met this week to address how to prevent chronic diseases that cost billions of dollars each year. In a two-day meeting, the UN’s General Assembly is discussing how to reduce rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung diseases. Each year, these diseases account for about 63% of all deaths worldwide. The UN and the World Health Organization are looking at cost-effective ways to prevent these diseases, including taxes on tobacco and alcohol and regulations on the amount of salt and trans fats in foods. The UN meeting took place in New York City September 19 and 20. The Wall Street Journal wrote about it September 19.