WHO Report Advocates “Life-Course Approach” to End Childhood Obesity
The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Commission on Ending
Childhood Obesity (ECHO) has issued a January 25, 2016, report that
recommends, among other things, a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages
(SSBs), context-specific dietary guidelines, and “interpretive” front-of-pack
labeling. Taking “a life-course approach” that focuses on what it
describes as an obesogenic environment, the report urges WHO, member
governments and non-state actors to implement specific action items
designed to (i) promote intake of healthy foods and reduce intake of
unhealthy foods and SSBs among children; (ii) promote physical activity
and reduce sedentary behaviors; (iii) provide guidance on preconception
and antenatal care to reduce the risk of childhood obesity; (iv) support
healthy diet, sleep and physical activity during childhood; (v) promote
healthy school environments, health and nutrition literacy; and (vi)
provide family-based lifestyle weight management services.
In particular, ECHO singles out food and beverage marketing as “a major
issue demanding change that will protect all children equally.” To this
end, the commission asks member states to implement WHO’s “Set of
Recommendations on the Marketing of Foods and Non-alcoholic Beverages
to Children,” in addition to developing their own regulations on the
marketing of complementary foods and beverages “to limit the consumption
of foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and salt by infants and
young children.”
The report also urges consumers to demand that “the food and nonalcoholic
beverage industry provide healthy products,” at the same time
that it asks government to work closely with the private sector. “Countries
need to engage constructively with the private sector to encourage
implementation of policies and interventions,” state the report. “Cooperative
relationships with industry have already led to some encouraging
outcomes related to diet and physical activity. Initiatives by the food
manufacturing industry to reduce fat, sugar and salt content, and portion
sizes of processed foods, and to increase the production of innovative,
healthy and nutritious choices, could accelerate health gains worldwide.”
See The Lancet, January 26, 2016.
Issue 592
