Participants pose for a photo at the Asia Dietitians Forum. (©Mika Sugiura)
The 2025 Asian Dietetic Forum was held in Osaka on August 5–6, hosted by the Japan Dietetic Association (JDA), the national professional body for dietitians. The forum brought together the Asian Federation of Dietetics Associations (AFDA) and the International Confederation of Dietetic Associations (ICDA). Delegates adopted the "Osaka Nutrition Declaration 2025," which stresses that food security and nutrition policies are essential to eliminating malnutrition.
At the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, where temperatures topped 35°C, leaders of dietitian associations from 12 Asian countries and regions, including Japan, took the stage.
Asia's 'Double Burden'
The spotlight was on the "double burden of malnutrition." In the past, developing countries primarily struggled with undernutrition caused by hunger, while developed nations dealt with obesity from overnutrition.
Today, however, processed foods and urban lifestyles have brought obesity and lifestyle diseases even to developing nations. At the same time, economic inequality has led to new problems: young women who are underweight, and children and older adults who still suffer from malnutrition.
Country reports highlighted specific challenges. In South Korea, an aging population is driving up chronic disease, while economic disparity adds to the social burden. Participants called for stronger dietitian systems, proper placement of dietitians, and improved professional training.
In Malaysia, one in two adults is obese and one in six has diabetes, yet the country has only about 1,400 qualified dietitians. Efforts are underway to expand the number of registered professionals.
Forum chair and JDA President Teiji Nakamura noted that although every country is working on nutrition issues, the number of dietitians and their achievements remain insufficient.
A Century of 'Japan Nutrition'
Summarizing the discussions, Nakamura asked: "The world recognizes that nutrition policy is important, but have we fallen into the idea that simply securing food is enough?"
He explained that food security may ensure supply, but alone it does not guarantee health. Poor balance can lead to deficiencies and disease. The Osaka Declaration therefore carried a key message: food and nutrition must be treated together as national security priorities.
Japan has long led the field. The Institute of Nutrition (now the National Institute of Health and Nutrition) was established in 1920, and after the hardships of wartime food shortages, the Dietitians Act of 1947 made nutrition part of national policy. This system helped Japan overcome hunger, support its recovery, and fuel postwar growth.
Today, Japan has more than one million dietitians, including over 290,000 nationally licensed registered dietitians. By combining traditional food culture with nutrition science, Japan has built a distinctive approach known as "Japan Nutrition."
Some Asian countries still lack nationally certified dietitians. Nakamura described Japan's nutrition policy as a success story, saying that investing in people helped build the nation. While Asia's economic growth may now be twice as fast as Japan's was, nutrition policies often take a back seat. Simply escaping hunger does not mean achieving health, he said, encouraging neighbors to look to Japan's policies as a model.
Sri Lanka Joins AFDA
At the AFDA general meeting held alongside the forum, Sri Lanka was formally accepted as a new member, bringing the federation's total to 13 countries and regions.
Dr Fathima Amal Zaffroon Firouse, president of the Dietitians Association of Sri Lanka, welcomed the decision, noting that Sri Lanka faces both undernutrition and overnutrition. The country has only 115 legally qualified dietitians, and public hospitals do not yet include them in medical teams. Firouse said Sri Lanka hopes to draw on the expertise of AFDA members, especially Japan, to improve nutrition.
With Japan's support, Vietnam is also moving toward establishing a national registered dietitian system, and is expected to join AFDA in the near future.
The Legacy of Washoku
At the Expo, all 47 of Japan's prefectural dietitian associations presented their visions for the "future of Japanese cuisine."
The dishes combined washoku — traditional Japanese cuisine recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage — with the "Future 50 Foods" selected by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as nutritious, sustainable, and affordable.
Niigata presented noppe, a hearty soup with carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and salted salmon. Okinawa highlighted kubuirichi, a stir-fry made with kombu seaweed, along with other local specialties.
The JDA website provides detailed information on each dish, including recipes, nutritional content, and cultural background, turning the exhibition into a showcase of Japanese wisdom.
Nutrition is one of Japan's central contributions to global health. At the Expo, the forum marked a step toward its goal: making all people in Asia healthier and happier through the power of nutrition and food to build "a future where life shines bright."
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Author: Mika Sugiura
