Food Is The Forgotten Prescription, Says Prof. Utoo

A Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, Prof. Priscilla Mwuese Utoo, has described food as “the forgotten prescription,” stressing its critical role in preventing and controlling chronic health conditions affecting humanity.

Prof. Utoo made the assertion while delivering the 26th inaugural lecture of Moses Orshio Adasu University, explaining that the lecture was based on years of research into nutrition and its implications for human health.

She said proper nutrition was fundamental to longevity, warning that poor dietary habits could reduce life expectancy by as much as 20 years. According to her, poor nutrition contributes to chronic illnesses, obesity, heart failure, sudden deaths and hypertension.

The Don also linked poor nutrition to poor academic performance among students, urging parents to take greater responsibility for what their children consume. She said the popular expression, “You are what you eat,” should be taken seriously.

Professor Utoo cautioned against overnutrition, undernutrition and poor nutrition, noting that there was a thin line separating the three. She urged Nigerians to avoid excessive consumption of foods high in sugar, salt and calories.

The consultant public health physician, encouraged people to prioritise nutritious foods rich in energy and protein, while calling on governments at all levels to promote nutritional research and apply research findings in strengthening national nutrition policies.

The professor further advocated the integration of relevant nutritional knowledge into the various levels of education, stressing that improved nutrition awareness could contribute significantly to better health outcomes and human development.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, MOAU, Professor Timothy Alabar, declared open a food exhibition preceding the lecture and commended exhibitors. He said 21st-century education must be solution-based rather than focused solely on memorising knowledge.

Professor Alabar also announced a new university policy requiring every department to present at least two inaugural lectures per academic session. He said the initiative would deepen scholarship, enhance visibility and help the institution catch up with universities ahead in inaugural lecture activities.

The lecture ended with Professor Utoo urging Nigerians to recognise that health depends not only on doctors’ prescriptions but also on daily dietary choices. The event attracted academics, traditional rulers, politicians, students and members of the public in large numbers.