United Nations World Data Forum 2024
Data Strings: a live data visualization of dietary data
At the 2024 UN World Data Forum in Medellín, Colombia, the Healthy Diets Monitoring Initiative (HDMI) - a joint effort by FAO, UNICEF, and WHO - was showcased through an interactive installation designed to raise awareness and inspire action on global nutrition.
The "Data Strings" exhibit transformed dietary data into an immersive and participatory experience. Utilizing an engaging thread-based voting system combined with real-time data visualization, the installation guided attendees through a reflective Q&A journey, prompting them to consider their personal food choices and the wider implications for public health.
Participants' answers were incorporated into a physical display, visually representing collective eating habits, shared challenges, and thoughts on healthy eating. By linking personal experiences to global nutrition issues, the installation fostered meaningful conversations around the factors influencing dietary decisions.
Questions featured in the installation:
- Do you consider yourself a healthy eater?
- Yes, most of the time
- Sometimes
- No, I don’t
- Where are you from?
- Africa
- Asia
- Europe
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- Northern America
- Oceania
- What are the challenges that you face to follow a healthy diet?
- Health issues (allergies, intolerances…)
- Lack of knowledge and skills
- Resources (time, budget, availability…)
- Taste preferences
- What is most important when you decide what to eat?
- Convenience and time
- Cost
- Cultural or family traditions
- Ethical concerns (environment, fair trade…)
- Food safety
- Health benefits
- Pleasure and taste
- Which sources do you trust most for information on healthy eating?
- Family and friends
- Government and research institutions
- Healthcare professionals
- How do you feel about the importance of tracking your diet?
- Essential
- Useful
- Interesting
- Irrelevant
- Annoying
- Invasive
- Do you believe your food choices have the potential to create a healthier world?
- Absolutely
- Maybe
- Not really
More than 2,000 visitors explored the installation, with 127 actively participating in the interactive experience.
Notably, in response to the question "Do you believe your food choices can contribute to a healthier world?", 53% answered "Absolutely," 34% replied "Maybe," and 13% indicated "Not really." This suggests that while a majority felt confident in their personal impact, a significant minority expressed uncertainty. Additionally, participants identified a lack of knowledge and health-related issues as the primary obstacles to maintaining a healthy diet, while convenience, time, and cost emerged as the leading considerations influencing their food choices.
The "Data Strings" installation highlighted the critical need for standardized metrics to effectively track global nutritional trends, pinpoint disparities, and set clear objectives for improvement. Without reliable data, meaningful progress is unattainable - only by measuring current realities can we bridge the gap between today's dietary habits and our global nutrition goals.