World Gastroenterology Organisation and Danone launch Global Campaign to Improve Digestive Health
LONDON, May 29/PRNewswire/ --
- Year-Long Campaign Titled 'Optimum Health and Nutrition' to Focus on
the Link Between Nutrition and Digestive Health
- Poor Digestive Health Affects Millions Worldwide and Seriously Impacts
Quality of Life, yet few Seek Medical Advice
- WGO and Danone Committed to Working Together Over Next Three Years to
Help Raise Awareness and Improve Digestive Health
Today, on the occasion of World Digestive Health Day (WDHD), the World
Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) has launched a year-long campaign titled
'Optimum Health and Nutrition' focusing on the link between nutrition and
digestive health. An unbalanced diet, rushing or skipping food and an
unhealthy lifestyle may all contribute to digestive disorders (such as
constipation, bloating and heartburn ) which affect millions worldwide. In a
global consumer study, more than 55% of women interviewed claimed to suffer
from these digestive disorders(1). This campaign is part of a three-year
partnership between WGO and Danone to help raise awareness of digestive
disorders and the importance of maintaining good digestive health.
Millions worldwide suffer from digestive disorders, which can seriously
impact well-being and quality of life. For example, constipation can lead to
discomfort, bloating and irregularity, all of which can affect confidence and
leave sufferers feeling less sociable and attractive(2). However,
constipation is largely ignored, with less than a third of sufferers actively
seeking treatment - in the global consumer study, 44% of women claimed to
suffer from constipation1 but a WGO report released today shows that only 15%
of people who suffer from constipation actually visit a doctor(3).
Overall, digestive disorders are associated with considerable discomfort,
disability, disruption of family life, high healthcare costs and time lost
from work and other productive activities(3). In Europe, approximately 40 to
80 million people are affected by digestive disorders and projected costs are
Euros 5.1bn while in the US, they account for 13% of all hospitalisations and
nearly USD 24bn in costs(3).
According to Professor Eamonn Quigley, President, World Gastroenterology
Organisation, "This year, we celebrate our 50th anniversary and have chosen
to highlight the crucial topic of nutrition and digestive health. Digestive
disorders affect a significant percent of the population and can lead to
serious conditions such as colon cancer. We believe that nutrition is
integral to digestive health - and overall health - and within nutrition,
daily probiotics can play a major role in improving digestive health. Working
jointly with Danone, we hope to increase awareness of digestive disorders and
help people improve their digestive health through easily implemented
nutritional and lifestyle changes."
Nutrition and lifestyle play an important role in digestive health.
Simple yet effective steps including consumption of fibre, raw fruits and
vegetables, adequate intake of fluids and regular exercise can help maintain
digestive health. Eating scientifically proven probiotics daily can also help
improve digestive health.
Dr Nigel Hughes, Vice President R&D - Dairy Division, Groupe Danone, says
"This partnership demonstrates the commitment of Danone to improving
nutrition and digestive health. Most digestive disorders are caused by poor
or inadequate nutrition. The WGO has recently released nutritional guidelines
including the daily consumption of probiotics and we hope more healthcare
professionals will include probiotic foods with proven health benefits, such
as Activia yogurt, in the management of people with digestive disorders."
For the campaign, the WGO and Danone have developed a range of useful
materials about digestive health and nutrition for the general public and
healthcare professionals. Among these are 10 simple, easy to follow
nutritional recommendations and a nutritional pyramid for consumers looking
to improve their digestive health. The WGO has also developed a DVD featuring
interviews with leading European experts in addition to guidelines on
Probiotics for reference by healthcare professionals and nutritionists. All
these resources are available at http://www.worldgastroenterology.org.
Over the next three years, Danone and the WGO will continue to work
together to raise awareness of digestive disorders and help make healthcare
professionals, the general public and governments more aware of issues -local, national and global - relating to nutrition and their relation to
digestive health and disease. In addition, a series of studies will be
carried out annually to determine the global prevalence of digestive
disorders and provide clear nutritional recommendations based on local habits
and disorders.
About World Gastroenterology Organisation
Formed in 1935 and incorporated in 1958, the World Gastroenterology
Organisation (WGO) is a federation of 103 national societies and four
regional association of gastroenterology representing over 50,000 individual
members worldwide. Its mission is to promote an awareness of the worldwide
prevalence and optimal care of digestive disorders, among the general public
and healthcare professionals alike, through the provision of high quality,
accessible and independent education and training. Every year, the WGO
celebrates 29th May as World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) focusing on a
particular gastroenterology theme or an important topic in the area of
digestive health and disease.
About Groupe Danone
Groupe DANONE, the worldwide leader in healthy food, is a Fortune 500
company and one of the most successful healthy food companies in the world.
Its mission is to bring health through tasty, nutritious and affordable food
and beverage products to as many people as possible. Fulfilling this mission
is a major contributor to the Groupe's continuous fast growth. Groupe DANONE,
with 150 plants and around 76 000 employees, has a presence in all five
continents and over 120 countries. In 2007, Groupe DANONE recorded 12.7
billion euros sales.
Groupe DANONE enjoys leading positions on healthy food on four
businesses: fresh dairy products (ndegrees1 worldwide), waters (ndegrees 2 on
the packaged water market), baby nutrition (ndegrees2 worldwide) and medical
nutrition. Listed on Euronext Paris, Groupe DANONE is also ranked among the
main index of social responsibility: Dow Jones Stoxx and World Sustainability
Indices, ASPI Eurozone and Ethibel Sustainability Index. In 2008, the popular
and proven probiotic fermented dairy product Activia will reach many millions
of consumers globally and will account for well over EUR 2bn in sales.
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(1) TNS data. Global consumer study 2006-2007
(2) TNS data. Consumer study 2004.
(3) Guarner F, et al. Map of Digestive Disorders (report by the
WGO-Danone). 2008.
For more information, contact:
St=E9phanie Rismont-Wargnier Mitali Rajan
Corporate Communication Groupe Danone Chandler Chicco Agency
T : +33-1-44-35-20-74 T : +44(0)207-632-1996
F : +33-1-44-35-20-54 F : +44(0)207-632-1801
E : stephanie.rismont@danone.com E : m.rajan@cca-uk.com
Source: Danone
St=E9phanie Rismont-Wargnier, Corporate Communication Groupe Danone, T : +33-1-44-35-20-74, F : +33-1-44-35-20-54, E : stephanie.rismont@danone.com; Mitali Rajan, Chandler Chicco Agency, T : +44(0)207-632-1996, F : +44(0)207-632-1801, E : m.rajan@cca-uk.com
2008-05-28 19:05:49 0372308 PRNEWSWIRE