Background-the rationale for focusing on nutrition and health
Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) have become the greatest threat to human health and well-being globally and constitute the leading cause of deaths worldwide. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) report, the "Global Status Report on Noncommunicable Diseases 2014," updated in January 2015, NCD kill some 38 million people each year. Low and middle socioeconomic status countries account for 28 million of these deaths. If the current trend continues, the WHO predicts that the number of deaths caused by NCD will reach 55 million per annum by 2030. Cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic diseases of the respiratory system, obesity and diabetes are among the most impactful NCDs that have strong nutritional and metabolic underpinnings. Rectifiable risk factors such as unhealthy dietary and lifestyle factors are important contributors, and it is clear that adequate and balanced nutrition is a critical step towards reducing risk of NCD in general and metabolic diseases in particular. The Sabri Ülker Foundation, through its various initiatives, aspires to contribute towards a reduction in the risk and burden of NCD. Applications for consideration for the Sabri Ülker Science Award should demonstrate how their work contributes to our knowledge of the relationship between nutrition, metabolism, health and disease, and its relevance to public health.
