Recent research underscores the critical need for enhanced food policies to combat the escalating obesity crisis in South Asia.
A comprehensive study led by Imperial College Business School emphasizes the necessity for improved food labeling, healthier school meals, and taxation on unhealthy foods to mitigate the rising health impacts of overnutrition in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Alarming Health Trends
The study reveals that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, and heart conditions are prevalent in South Asia, contributing to two-thirds of deaths in the region in 2021. Unhealthy diets are identified as a primary factor in these health issues, highlighting an urgent need for better policies and infrastructure.
Shifting Dietary Patterns
The research, spearheaded by Professors Marisa Miraldo and Franco Sassi, and published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, indicates that current food policies in these nations are inadequate. These policies fail to curb the negative health effects of widely available, high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt (HFSS) processed foods like crisps, cakes, biscuits, and sugary drinks.
The study points out a significant lack of policies aimed at improving unhealthy food environments, which are a key risk factor for diet-related diseases. The consumption of HFSS foods is increasing in the countries analyzed.
Calls for Policy Reform
“Our findings highlight a failure by governments to implement meaningful policies that address the impact of unhealthy food environments on unhealthy diets. This lack of action comes at a cost of human lives and loss of economic productivity,” said Professor Miraldo.
Dr. Elisa Pineda, another author of the study, noted, “Most food policies in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka focus on preventing food adulteration and ensuring hygiene standards. However, as trends in diets have changed, there is now an urgent need for policies to counteract the serious health impacts of overnutrition.”
Effective Policy Measures
To address these issues, the research identifies several key policy measures that have been effective in other countries. These include:
- Improved Food Labeling: Helping consumers assess the healthiness of products.
- Healthier School Meals: Developing nutrition standards and catering training.
- Taxation and Subsidies: Introducing taxes on unhealthy foods and subsidies for healthy options to encourage better choices.
- Promotion Limits: Restricting the advertising and sponsorship of unhealthy foods.
The researchers also underscore the importance of addressing malnutrition and improving access to affordable, healthy food options.
Holistic Health Approach
The study highlights the broader implications of policy reforms, suggesting that overall health improvements can be achieved if health considerations are integrated into all policies. This includes retail and advertising regulations, urban planning, transport links, and food supply chains.
“A health-in-all-policies approach with multi-sectoral action is necessary worldwide,” said Professor Miraldo. “This is essential in addressing diet-related risk factors of non-communicable diseases globally, for both adults and children.”
Research Background
The study was conducted by Professor Marisa Miraldo and Professor Franco Sassi, from the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Innovation at Imperial College Business School. It was part of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in South Asia, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) with support from the UK Government for global health research.
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