According to the statement from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in the isthmus the 2019 National Health Survey highlights that 13 percent of children under five years of age are overweight.
This data is even more alarming since it is 7.4 percentage points above the global estimate and 4.4 percentage points above the regional outlook.
In schoolchildren, more than 35 percent of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Among adults, the indicator covers 71.1, with a higher incidence in women (42 percent) compared to men (27 percent).
On the occasion of World Pulses Day, which is celebrated on the initiative of FAO every February 10, the agency’s nutrition officer here, Israel Ríos, called for making the most of this food.
“Pulses are a vital source of plant-based proteins and amino acids and should be consumed as part of a healthy diet to treat obesity, as well as to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases,” he said.
According to the expert, these foods help stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels, are suitable for people with diabetes, and are ideal for losing weight due to the feeling of satiety they provide.
In this regard, he said, FAO recommends pulses in school meals in the isthmus so that children meet their daily needs for energy, proteins and essential micronutrients. This year, he said, FAO announced that the central theme of World Pulses Day is: “Legumes: bringing diversity to agri-food systems,” while the motto of the year is: “Love pulses for a healthy diet and planet.”
According to studies by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Panamanian consumption of legumes increased by 24.25 percent in the period from 2014 to 2018, with beans (12,224 tons) and lentils (8,782 tons) showing the greatest increase.
This research revealed that the production and consumption of pulses in Panama is below other food groups such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, roots and tubers; all of these are equally important in the diet and health of the population.
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