Ways of Tackling Obesity - Fat Tax, Better Labelling and Restricting Advertisements

A team of researchers from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and from the World Health Organization (WHO), published a paper in The Lancet Series on Chronic Disease and Development.  The paper explores and highlights ways to tackle the rise in obseity in nations of all incomes.

The paper studied obesity rates in seven countries: Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and,  England.  The researchers found that in all seven countries, obesity posed a big health problem.  Statistics reveal that the UK is the fattest country in Europe and this is set to rise by 10% over the next decade.  Seven in ten Mexican adults are now considered obese or overweight.  Similarly China now has the same rates of diabetes as the USA (92 million).    

As such, the paper concluded that in order to tackle rising obesity levels, a combined approach needs to be implemented nationally.  Taxing unhealthy foods, (or reducing tax on healthy foods), restricting advertisements on unhealthy foods and improving labeling, is among the most cost effective ways to promote healthy eating.  It is estimated that these measures would add nearly 7 million life years in good health over the next two decades in seven countries covering almost half of the world population.

Clearly authors of the paper provide some clear actions that need to be seriously considered to help drive down obesity levels.  However, what other ways and initiatives can be introduced to encourage people to make healthier lifestyle choices?