Statement from Dr. Stephan Theis, Head of Nutrition Science and Communication at BENEO
Obesity is a global issue impacting children, adolescents, and adults. This year’s ‘World Obesity Day’ calls on governments, health professionals, and the public to transform our systems and build a healthier future for people all over the world.
GLP-1 drugs for weight loss have become increasingly popular. Without a doubt, those drugs can revolutionize weight loss journeys. But it’s important to note that nutrition is paramount to ensure healthy outcomes and long-term success. The food industry is a crucial piece of the puzzle to contribute to a healthier future by simplifying nutrition for consumers to allow them to make the right food choices. At BENEO, we see our responsibility to contribute to better nutrition that fosters health and makes it easier to manage weight for all – be it those on GLP-1 drugs or coming off from it or those seeking weight loss without medication.
Shaping a healthier future
From my viewpoint as a nutrition expert, a key aspect for us in the food industry is preventing nutrient deficiencies common in calorie-restricted diets and with certain weight loss medications. BENEO’s portfolio of functional fibres (prebiotic and wholegrain fibres), functional carbohydrates and plant-based protein enables manufacturers to develop solutions that address nutritional gaps.
Reformulation is also one pillar for a healthier nutrition landscape. Boosting fibre or protein content, as well as reducing fat or sugar, are feasible approaches to improve the nutritional values of food and drink. At BENEO, we believe that improving the nutritional profile and maintaining great taste must go together to set the groundwork for a long-term shift to healthier habits. That’s the way our application experts work on formulations and support manufacturers through the product development process. Possible end products are high-protein/high-fibre products, low sugar/low glycaemic foods, shakes, nutritional bars, meal replacements, and supplements.
In this respect, I would like to mention another crucial aspect which is transparency. A product label should make it as easy as possible for consumers to understand if a product is contributing to a healthy diet. The solid science behind BENEO ingredients enables manufacturers to use claims for their front-of-packaging according to national legislation which help consumers with their buying decisions.
Fighting obesity is a complex issue with many actors. It is the responsibility of health systems, food systems, and society to make change happen. BENEO is continuously working toward a healthier future according to its approach of ‘connecting nutrition and health’.
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