The presence of total NCD mortality was 75%, while cardiovascular disease morbidity, according to
the State Institute for Statistic of Republic of Macedonia amounted to 57% of the total morbidity (2001).
In terms of risk factors for NCD, overweight and obesity were prevalent among 58.3% of the population
in Republic of Macedonia (2001) (3).
It is recognized that balanced nutrition and physical activity (4) are the basic intervention measures in
the concept of an integrated approach for prevention of NCD. From a public health perspective,
investments in organized work in the field of food, nutritional education primarily at the universities are
multiple investments which are returned to the existing policy and community (5).
On the other hand, specialized medical professionals in the field of nutrition and medical dietetics is
highly deficient, as well as researchers in the clinical nutrition. Nutritionists/dietitians with a completed
undergraduate and graduate study are still missing. Ministry of Health has no component in developing
national public health strategy, in part: "Health promotion through nutrition recommendations based on
traditional food and balanced nutrition.