Many of us have never had the opportunity to travel to the countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean, so Nutrition and an Active Life. From Knowledge to Action, edited by Wilma B Friere, provides a very graphic image of some of the health crises that threaten the quality of life and productivity of these communities. The book also explores efforts made by these communities to arrest some of the devastation caused by diseases and reclaim some quality to their communities' wellbeing.
The major theme of this book is that individual behaviour can be changed through the modification of local and national policies regarding dietary and physical activity practices that contribute to chronic diseases. The effective practices presented can be replicated to other locations, where local and national authorities can influence new standards and regulations, implement quality control and surveillance, promote active lifestyles and health, redesign urban spaces, and redistribute public spaces to enhance community physical activity and mobility. Public policy's response to epidemiology should follow Mexico's example with the implementation of urban development, public safety, and national nutrition policies.
I like this book because it is an assortment of research studies examining risk factors relating to the long term consequences of dietary practices, the impact on health, and policies and programmes designed to eliminate or reduce the health hazards these negative practices cause; primarily, nutrition, and health hazards that evolve from birth through early childhood to adulthood and extending to the next generation.
I am grateful for the information on the development of intervention programmes and policies regarding breast feeding that can prevent specific deficiencies that occur in these South American countries and elsewhere. This information is vital in shaping the development of improved policies and programmes. The reader would want to keep reading the book because it is an excellent source of scientific information, it provides opportunity for reflection, and it is a tremendous guidance resource.
The most important feature of this book is the four sections covering approaches to eliminate preventable risk factors, which brings science into the mainstream. Section 1 is a review of scientific evidence that projects the contribution of science to the solutions of the community's health dilemmas. It addresses child malnutrition and ways communities can combat children's susceptibility to infection, by implementing cost effective policies and programmes to improve nutrition in early childhood. Better nutrition in early childhood will enhance the physical growth and mental development of children, leading to adults with a greater potential for leading healthy, productive lives.
Section 2 is a presentation of successful nutritional interventions for the correction of specific deficiencies. They impact on infant feeding and have the potential to alleviate the detrimental effects of artificial feeding on child health. Section 3 introduces strategies adapted at the local level to address nutrition and physical activity, citing their effect on intellectual functioning. It shows how the improvement of physical and educational capital can lead to income and wealth.
Section 4 provides strategies at the national level that can facilitate efforts within communities to design and develop nutritionally sound practices. On a national level, promoting breast feeding and a national network of human milk bands can address later health issues regarding overweight and obesity. Nutritional deficiency disorders and problems of excessive caloric intake are present in every country, and children under three suffer from malnutrition, stunted growth, and anaemia.
If you have an interest in replicating successful practices to diverse communities, you must read this book. Everyone can learn appropriate strategies for assuring better living conditions, greater access to health services, and the implementation of effective nutrition policies and programmes.