Can food-related trade and fiscal policies address obesity? (Food Tank) 

Food Tank published an article on the results of a recent analysis by IFPRI that finds that food-related trade and fiscal policies are linked to weight outcomes and diet-related illnesses. The findings stress the importance of combining public health policy with trade and fiscal policy reforms. Senior research fellow Kibrom Abay said, “One of the important findings we show is that governments will have to look beyond public health policies and hence consider fiscal and trade policies to address the unprecedented rise in overweight and obesity rates in (low- and middle-income countries) LMICs.” IFPRI says that trade policies and subsidies drive the supply and demand of unhealthy food and are strongly associated with increases in body weight. By implementing nutrition-sensitive trade and fiscal policies, countries can reduce overweight and obesity. Conversely, if these policies are left unattended, “they can further aggravate the recent trends,” Abay tells Food Tank.