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1st
INTERNATIONAL EXPERT MEETING ON HEALTH Barcelona, Spain, February 1-2, 2009 |
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What is the IEM? The IEM is a scientific meeting of 40 of the world's leading experts in the field of fats, nutrition and health. By gathering experts from over 25 different countries, a global momentum is created within the scientific community, to help consumers to make healthier choices with respect to their fat intake and to reduce consumer confusion on a healthy fat intake. When and where was the IEM held? The IEM took place in Barcelona, Spain, on February 1-2, 2009. What was the objective of this meeting? The objective of the meeting was to agree on approaches to help consumers to improve the fat quality of the diet. Why was the IEM organized? Recent research has shown that people are confused about fats, especially whether they should be eating any fats because they are convinced all fats are bad. Indeed this is also reflected in current dietary intake patterns: the fat quality of the diet of most people is not in line with a healthy, recommended, fat quality of the diet. Meaning that in general their intake of saturated (unhealthy) fats is too high and the intake of essential (healthy) fats is too low, which has consequences for the health and well being of children and adults worldwide. Who organised the IEM? The IEM was held under the auspices of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) and the World Heart Federation (WHF). The meeting was chaired by Prof. Ricardo Uauy - Chile (President of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences) alongside a Steering Committee comprising Prof. Pekka Puska - Finland (Director General, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland), Connie Diekman MEd, RD, LD, FADA - USA (Director of University Nutrition, Washington University in St Louis), Prof. Ibrahim Elmadfa - Austria (Director, Institute of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna), Prof. Bert Koletzko - Germany (Head of Div. Metabolic Diseases and Nutritional Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich) and Hans Zevenbergen PhD - The Netherlands (Category Nutrition Director, Unilever Research and Development). The meeting was funded through an unrestricted educational grant from Unilever. Who attended this meeting? The meeting was attended by 40 of the world's leading experts in the field of fats, nutrition and health. There were attendees from: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, United Kingdom, USA, Spain, South Africa, and Turkey. The full list of participants can be found in the proceedings of the IEM, which can be downloaded via this link. What were the outcomes? The outcome of this meeting were
captured in an agreed and signed summary statement, which can be
found in the IEM
in Barcelona. The event was the first
step of a global campaign to help consumers improve the fat
quality of their every day diet. In the second stage, local
events have been organised where the outcomes of the IEM were
presented and where discussions took place on what this means for
consumers on a local level. Local details, such as local consumer
knowledge and behaviour, were taken into account during these
events. The goal of the local events was to provide consumers
with practical, motivational and actionable ways to make
healthier choices with respect to their fat intake. More
information on each of the events can be found under 'local IEM
events'.
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Quick links to: Summary Statement IEM Barcelona Proceedings of IEM in Barcelona Slidepacks of IEM in Barcelona Check
out your colleagues on the web!
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