With Bangladesh increasingly suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it is imperative that - while medical interventions are important, and while environmental factors such as the worsening air quality must also be taken into account - in order to begin fighting this worrying trend, our nation, collectively, instills healthier habits.

According to the World Health Organization, NCDs account for more than two-thirds of all deaths in the country, with unhealthy diets identified as a major risk factor -- this is the reality that we must grapple with, and look to address.

To that end, we must take a closer look at how ultraprocessed foods(UPFs) have been allowed to become an everyday part of diets now and contribute to an increasingly unhealthier nation. What is more alarming is how these foods have been allowed to market themselves, using deceptive tactics more associated with industries such as tobacco. 

As recently as November of last year, more than 40 experts from around the world published their research in top medical journal The Lancet, blaming UPFs for poor diets globally and a rise in diseases, from obesity to cancer. 

For a country such as Bangladesh already struggling with poor health as a result of numerous factors beyond the public’s control, the adverse impact of UPFs is only magnified, and we need urgent measures to ensure that it does not only get worse.

The government must keep an eye on ensuring that UPFs are not allowed to dominate our food market, and ensure, through policies and taxation and awareness campaigns, that the everyday Bangladeshi is more conscious about eating a healthier and more balanced diet. 

Better hospitals, healthcare facilities, and overall public health research are non-negotiable. However, for the future health of this country, we must, collectively, be more wary and resist the temptations that UPFs pose.