Abstract
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the recent obesity prevention–related food policies initiated in countries worldwide. We searched and reviewed relevant research papers and government documents, focusing on those related to dietary guidelines, food labeling, regulation of food marketing, and policies affecting food prices. We also commented on the effects and challenges of some of the related policy options. There are large variations regarding what, when, and how policies have been implemented across countries. Clearly, developed countries are leading the effort, and developing countries are starting to develop some related policies. The encouraging message is that many countries have been adopting policies that might help prevent obesity and that the support for more related initiatives is strong and continues to grow. Communicating information about these practices will help researchers, public health professionals, and policy makers around the world to take action to fight the growing epidemic of obesity and other nutrition-related diseases.
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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
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Acknowledgments
The study was supported in part by research grants from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) [research grants 1R01HD064685-01A1 and U54HD070725 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)]. The U54 project is cofunded by the NICHD and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research of the NIH. Dr. Shiyong Liu’s effort was supported in part by a research grant from the Chinese National Social Science Foundation (12CGL103). The content of the paper is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funders. We also thank Dr. HyunJung Lim for her assistance in collecting some related information.
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Qi Zhang has received a consulting fee or honorarium from Johns Hopkins University.
Shiyong Liu, Ruicui Liu, Hong Xue, and Youfa Wang declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
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Zhang, Q., Liu, S., Liu, R. et al. Food Policy Approaches to Obesity Prevention: An International Perspective. Curr Obes Rep 3, 171–182 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-014-0099-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-014-0099-6