Coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some specific types of cancer, until recently common only in developed countries, are currently the leading morbidity and mortality factors worldwide. In addition, the prevalence of cancer and cardiovascular disease almost always increases dramatically among migrants when they move from less developed countries to more developed countries. In traditional African societies, for example, cardiovascular disease is virtually nonexistent, but the prevalence / incidence among African-Americans is similar to that of Caucasian Americans. These marked changes in countries over time and among migrant populations indicate that the primary determinants of these diseases are not genetic but rather environmental factors with particular importance the diet and lifestyle. It is for this reason that considerable research effort has been directed in identifying the modifiable determinants of chronic diseases.

These studies have been mostly conducted in Western countries, in part because of the historical importance of these diseases in the West, but also because they have a more developed research infrastructure. A first general inference tells us that reducing identifiable and modifiable nutritional / dietary and lifestyle risk factors could prevent most cases of CVD, stroke, diabetes, and many cancers in developed societies. These conclusions are truly important because they indicate that these diseases are not inevitable consequences of a modern society. In addition, low prevalences / incidences of these diseases can be achieved without expensive drugs or medical facilities, which is not surprising because their prevalence / incidence has historically been extremely low in developing countries and with fewer medical resources. However, prevention of these diseases will require changes in behaviors related to smoking, physical activity, diet and lifestyle. Investing in education and food policy becomes critical to supporting and encouraging such changes.

The worldwide prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, hypertension and obesity), chronic diseases that occur in adulthood is a serious public health problem. It is basically related to individuals' lifestyles and includes inadequate eating patterns (excessive energy consumption particularly at the expense of fat and poor intake of fiber and vitamin C), smoking, and lack of physical activity.

The environment, a surgical act or a trauma, food allergies, inadequate access to safe and sufficient food, the stage of growth and development, harmful beliefs or ideas, lack of knowledge and socioeconomic issues can affect the adequate food pattern. In a healthy person, the omission of a particular group of foods or the ingestion of foods rich in calories but poor in nutrients does not lead suddenly to a poor nutritional state. It is the prolonged intake of this type of unbalanced diet or severe / acute insufficiency of nutrients leading to undesirable nutritional consequences.

For several decades it has been a concern the lack of knowledge about nutrition in its basic and practical aspects in the training of health sciences professionals. The immediate consequence of this shortage is the poor participation of health professionals in addressing the nutrition-related problems that affect people at different stages of the life cycle.