Transforming South Asia's Food Landscape: Combating Obesity and Promoting Healthier Diets

New research from Imperial College Business School highlights an urgent need for more effective food policies to address the rising levels of obesity and overnutrition in South Asia. The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, emphasizes the critical role of policy interventions in improving food environments and encouraging healthier dietary choices across Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Empowering Consumers, Transforming Diets: A Holistic Approach to Combating Overnutrition

Addressing the Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases

The research reveals that non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart conditions, have become a major problem in South Asia, accounting for two-thirds of all deaths in the region in 2021. Unhealthy diets, characterized by the overconsumption of energy-dense processed foods high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS), are a leading contributor to these health issues. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policy interventions to address the growing burden of overnutrition and its associated health consequences.

Gaps in Existing Food Policies

The study found that current food policies in the region are largely focused on preventing food adulteration and ensuring hygiene standards, but they fall short in addressing the negative impacts of unhealthy food environments. As dietary patterns have shifted towards the increased consumption of HFSS foods, the researchers emphasize the pressing need for policies that can effectively counteract the serious health implications of overnutrition.

Proven Policy Measures for Healthier Diets

To address this critical issue, the research identifies several key policy measures that have demonstrated effectiveness in other countries. These include:- Improved food labeling to help consumers make informed, healthier choices- Developing nutrition standards and catering training to enhance the nutritional quality of school meals- Introducing taxes on unhealthy foods and subsidies for healthy options to incentivize healthier purchasing decisions- Placing limits on the promotion of unhealthy foods, including advertising and sponsorship of eventsBy implementing these evidence-based policies, the researchers believe that South Asian countries can empower consumers, transform food environments, and ultimately promote healthier dietary patterns across the region.

Addressing Malnutrition and Improving Access to Affordable Healthy Foods

The study also highlights the importance of addressing the dual burden of malnutrition, emphasizing the need to improve people's access to affordable and nutritious food options. By adopting a "health-in-all-policies" approach, the researchers suggest that governments can integrate health considerations across various sectors, including retail, advertising, urban planning, and food supply chains, to enable widespread access to healthy diets.

Collaborative Action for Sustainable Change

Professor Marisa Miraldo, one of the study's lead authors, emphasizes the need for a multisectoral approach to address the complex challenge of diet-related non-communicable diseases. "A health-in-all-policies approach with multi-sectorial action is necessary worldwide," she states. "This is essential in addressing diet-related risk factors of non-communicable diseases (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers) globally, for both adults and children."By harnessing the power of evidence-based policy interventions and fostering collaborative efforts across various stakeholders, South Asian countries can pave the way for a healthier, more sustainable food landscape, empowering their populations to embrace nutritious diets and combat the rising tide of obesity and overnutrition.