Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
October 13th, 2015, New York, USA) – World Lung Foundation (WLF) today called on governments to start regulating food and beverage products linked to overweight and obesity.
Data released to coincide with World Obesity Day found that without change, 177 million adults across the globe will be severely obese and in need of medical treatment by 2025. This will prevent governments from meeting United Nations targets for reducing obesity-related disease by 2025 and impede efforts to attain health-related targets on the reduction of non-communicable disease, outlined in the recently-ratified 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – a global agreement which highlighted the inextricable links between health, development and economic wealth.
In several high-income countries, researchers have warned that obesity will bankrupt existing healthcare systems and decreases in life expectancy have already been identified. The health and economic burden of obesity is also expected to harm social and economic development in low and middle income countries, with researchers noting that certain populations are moving directly from malnutrition caused by a lack of food to obesity caused by affordable access to high-calorie foods and drinks.
Multinational food and beverage corporations selling products high in salt, sugar, fat and calories – what WHO refers to as Big Food and Big Soda – have increasingly targeted their attention on growing economies in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, just like the tobacco industry.
Sandra Mullin, Senior Vice President, Policy and Communications, World Lung Foundation said: “An overwhelming body of evidence about the harms of tobacco led health advocates and governments to a global consensus around the need for regulation. We have reached the same tipping point with foods high in salt, sugar, fat and calories and sugar-sweetened beverages – and it’s clear that half-hearted efforts at industry self-regulation will not stop the rising toll of obesity. In fact, there is evidence that Big Soda and Big Food are deliberately targeting children, just like Big Tobacco.”
Mullin continued: “But what we have learned in the fight against tobacco, we can use to accelerate the fight against obesity – by implementing some of the proven, evidence-based policies that have worked to reduce smoking prevalence. For example, clear labelling and best practice public education campaigns would provide people with accurate information to empower healthy choices.
“Taxes on unhealthy foods and drinks would reduce demand – particularly among low-income families who typically carry the highest burden of overweight and obesity related to poor diet – and help fund the financial burden these products are placing on overwhelmed health systems. And stricter bans on the marketing of unhealthy products will help to reduce the appeal of these products to children.
“A more obese world is not inevitable, but political will and concerted international collaboration is necessary to drive change. All the evidence indicates that deferring action is no longer an option,” she concluded.