The regional office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Bangkok will convene a high-level meeting to call for immediate action to curb rising levels of obesity in Asia and the Pacific brought caused by poor diets.

The rates of overweight and obesity have soared in recent years. Worldwide, some two billion people are overweight including 670 million adults who are obese. Meantime, globally, more than 800 million people still suffer from hunger.

Dignitaries participating in this event include Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand (FAO’s Guest of Honour), members of the foreign Diplomatic Corp, senior FAO Officials and the regional heads of other UN Agencies.

The event will take place 18 October 2019 at 14:30 (media in place by 14:00) at the FAO Regional Office 39 Phra Athit Road, Bangkok. Media representatives should RSVP to [email protected] (electronic media must allow extra time for security screening – and kindly note dress code below)

A ceremony will also be held to honour the contributions made to food security and improved nutrition by agriculturalists and researchers from five Asia-Pacific countries: Bhutan, Korea (Republic of), Thailand, Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands.  The five will receive FAO regional awards, presented to them on FAO’s behalf, by the Princess who is a UN FAO Special Ambassador for Zero Hunger.

The event will be marked by addresses from Her Royal Highness, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, Kundhavi Kadiresan, and Losaline Ma’asi, Member of Parliament, Kingdom of Tonga and former Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forests from the Kingdom of Tonga. She is an expert on dietary and nutrition issues in the Pacific Islands – a region battling an obesity epidemic.

EDITORS/CORRESPONDENTS: You are cordially invited to join this event at FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra Athit Road, 10200 Bangkok on Friday 18 October at 14:30. Advanced accreditation is required (due to security checks, arrival before 14:00 is mandatory), and a dress code is in force (lounge suits with neckties for men; conservative dress for women with shoulders covered). To take part, please send your accreditation request to [email protected] Tel: 02 697 4126