Reduction of critical nutrients – considerations

for policy

Hannah Brinsden

Head of Policy, World Obesity Federation

Friday 16th November, Geneva

About World Obesity

• Global federation with over 50 national member associations

• Use research, policy, education and networking...

…to prevent, manage and treat

• Recognise obesity as a disease and risk factor

• 2019 strategic priorities on CHO and UHC

Nutrition and Obesity

• Key priority is food environments and systems

• Nutrition important consideration for obesity• Improve population diet and health to prevent obesity

• Support healthier eating as part of weight management programmes

• Ensure healthy environments to aid maintenance of weight loss following treatment interventions

• Nutrition important for UHC

Commercial determinants of health

Source: Kickbusch et al, The commercial determinants of Health, The Lancet, Vol 4, December 2016

Composition

MarketingPrice

Diet and nutrient intake

Key drivers of ‘critical nutrient’ intake

Food compositionFood

labellingFood promotion

Food provision & retail

Food prices & taxation

Food trade & investment

Comprehensive set of food and nutrition policies

What are ‘critical’ nutrients

• HFSS foods

• Salt

• Saturated fat

• Trans fat

• Added sugars

• Important to focus on ultra-processed foods

Nutrient profiling – what is healthy?

• Nutrient profiling tool to inform policies• Can be used in many policies across the food

system

• Over 200 uses – helps identify key products of concern

• Traditionally used for marketing and labelling

‘Win-win’ policies

• Address multiple risk factors• UK SSB taxes – tax, PA revenue, reformulation

• Address social disparities and inequity• Hungary SSB and sweet taxes – greater proportion of primary educated vs

higher educated changed behaviour as a result

• Address multiple issues• Undernutrition, overnutrition and climate change

• Marketing

• Labelling

• Fiscal measures

• Dietary guidelines

• Price

• Formulation

• Education

• Health promotion

A framework convention for food?

Evidence dossier on SSB taxes – launching next week

• Digital marketing, city-level interventions and pregnancy interventions

Conclusions and recommendations

• Need to focus on comprehensive policy package to reduce consumption of HFSS foods

• Nutrient profiling should be used to inform policies

• Identify ‘win-win’ policies to increase impact

• Consider adoption of legal framework on food and nutrition, or a resolution on obesity which includes nutrition as a key priority, to help reduce consumption of HFSS foods

Thank you

Email: hbrinsden@worldobesity.org