Poor diet as bad as smoking.

A Dutch public health agency (RIVM) has concluded that eating too little fish, fruit and vegetables is as bad for human health as smoking in a new report by the Dutch public health agency that will be used in an upcoming European Food Safety Authority analysis of food and diet risks. :::[SMH]

Each year in the Netherlands, poor diet causes about 13,000 deaths due to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, while obesity claims 7,000 lives by causing heart disease and cancer, it said.

The Dutch researchers also say that about 25 per cent of deaths and serious illness caused by overweight and obesity would be avoided if all adults shed 3 kg.

"In particular, attempts at reducing saturated and trans fatty acid uptake and increasing fish, fruit and vegetables consumption could save many lives," the report said.

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