Fed Up – A Call For Tougher Regulation To Fight Obesity And Diet-Related Noncommunicable Diseases

Both globally and in New Zealand the prevalence of obesity and diet-related NCDs is unacceptably high. This research examines how the obesity problem came about, the flaws of the current legal and policy interventions, and appropriate regulatory changes that could be implemented to better address the problem. The causes of obesity and diet-related NCDs are complex and multifactorial. Regulations should focus on changing the modifiable factors that increase the risk of an individual developing one of these conditions.

Historically, it has been viewed as inappropriate to use paternalistic interventions to address consumer’s unhealthy eating habits. This view has begun to change. The harm caused to individuals and wider society by the high prevalence of obesity and diet-related NCDs means it is no longer appropriate to maintain a light regulatory touch. This thesis proposes that a combination of hard and soft paternalistic interventions should beimplemented.

There is currently a lack of effective legal and policy interventions with an emphasis on reducing obesity and diet-related NCDs. The most recent intervention came into effect in 2014 and was the introduction of voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling. This illustrates the lack of regulatory action.

This thesis proposes four new interventions to address the high prevalence of obesity and diet-related NCDs. These interventions seek to address the failures of the current approach. The four proposed interventions are: a mandatory Health Star Rating system, legislation restricting unhealthy food advertising towards children, a sodium reformulation programme and taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages. The proposed legal interventions should be implemented as a package and monitored to assess consumers response. This will ultimately determine how effective the new interventions are at reducing obesity and diet-related NCDs.