ANZOS 2013* Why are we not getting further with preventing obesity and what needs to change? A food policy perspective (#43)
Governments around the world have been taking a range of food policy actions to prevent and control obesity over the past decade. This talk will start by summarising these actions around the world. It will show that while there has been progress, it has been slow, both in terms of actions, and their effects. Part of the reason for this slow progress has been opposition to strong policy actions – a process that dents political will. Another has been the perception that it is too hard to change obesity – a perception apparently supported by the lack of a clear answer to “what works” to reduce obesity. The apparent lack of answers reduces the confidence of governments to take stronger action.
This talk will explain why one of the reasons for the lack of progress is the short-term lens through which decision makers view obesity prevention policies. It will set out a longer-term approach based on the evidence of the formation of food preferences, and show that, in fact, we do have the evidence to move forward to effectively prevent obesity using a food policy approach.
