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Published in: Current Obesity Reports 4/2019

01-12-2019 | Obesity | The Obesity Epidemic: Causes and Consequences (A Cameron and K Backholer, Section Editors)

Global Implementation of Obesity Prevention Policies: a Review of Progress, Politics, and the Path Forward

Authors: Rodney Lyn, Erica Heath, Janhavi Dubhashi

Published in: Current Obesity Reports | Issue 4/2019

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review describes policy and regulatory strategies to prevent obesity and summarizes worldwide progress and impediments to scaling up strategies globally.

Recent Findings

While there is considerable variation in the breadth and depth of uptake of recommended strategies, the adoption of effective obesity prevention policies has been slow and inconsistent. There is broad consensus that strong government, corporate, and consumer actions, including regulatory measures, are needed to advance obesity prevention policies. Governments have lacked sufficient will to take necessary action, the food industry has actively worked to thwart policies to protect its commercial interests, and consumers have not exerted sufficient influence or demand to produce change.

Summary

Advancing obesity prevention will require the use of effective strategies to shape and influence the information environments and political environments towards messages and actions to support public health. Greater emphasis is needed on reducing the influence of commercial interests, mobilizing civil society, and targeting vulnerable populations through equity-focused frameworks.
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Metadata
Title
Global Implementation of Obesity Prevention Policies: a Review of Progress, Politics, and the Path Forward
Authors
Rodney Lyn
Erica Heath
Janhavi Dubhashi
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Obesity Reports / Issue 4/2019
Electronic ISSN: 2162-4968
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-019-00358-w

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