Speakers demanded ensuring a transfat-free diet to reduce the risk of heart disease in young people. They said, in recent times, a high incidence of heart disease has been observed among young people in Bangladesh. According to research, one in five young people in the country is at risk of heart disease. One of the reasons for this is the high level of industrially produced transfats in the diet. If transfat control regulations are not finalized immediately, the risk of transfat-related heart disease will continue to increase at an alarming rate. On the occasion of International Youth Day on Thursday (August 12), the speakers in the webinar titled 'Role of Youth Society in Achieving Transfat Free Bangladesh' expressed such apprehensions. This webinar is jointly organized by Pragya (Knowledge for Progress) and National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh.
Speakers say, trans fatty acid (TFA) or transfat is a food ingredient harmful to health. Dalda or Banaspati ghee and various foods, fast food and bakery products made with it contain transfats. In addition, repeated use of the same oil in frying food creates transfats, which increase the risk of heart disease and premature death due to heart disease. Researchers at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute found transfats (trans fatty acids) higher than the WHO recommended 2 percent level in 92 percent of Dhaka's Dalda samples. The World Health Organization has set a target of eliminating transfats from the world's food supply chain by 2023.
Professor Dr. Epidemiology and Research Department of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh in the webinar. Sohel Reza Chowdhury said that about 6,000 people die of transfat-related heart disease in Bangladesh every year, a part of which is young. Vice President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Najer Hossain said that the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority is working on the finalization of the 'Trans Fatty Acid Control Regulations in Food Products-2021'. But the progress is not satisfactory. These regulations should be finalized quickly. Bangladesh Food and Nutrition Association (BAFNA) general secretary Vipul Biswas Apan said that almost half of the current population in Bangladesh is young. Failure to ensure a diet free of trans fat cannot protect young people from heart disease.
The main presentation in the webinar was presented by the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute's Trans Fat Project Coordinator Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Mahbubus Sobhan and Pragya Transfat Project Coordinator Mahmud Al Islam Shihab. Md. was also present in the webinar with the young people who participated from different parts of the country. Representatives of various organizations including Ruhul Quddus (GHAI), ABM Zubair (Pragya).
