Obesity and the Economics of Prevention: Fit not Fat

Posted by on April 02, 2012

The obesity epidemic slowed down in several OECD countries during the past three years. Rates grew less than previously projected, or did not grow at all, according to new data from ten OECD countries. Child obesity rates also stabilised in England, France, Korea and the United States. However, rates remain high and social disparities in obesity are unabated.

Many governments stepped up efforts to tackle the root causes of obesity, embracing increasingly comprehensive strategies and involving communities and key stakeholders. There has been a new interest in the use of taxes on foods rich in fat and sugar, with several governments (e.g. Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary) passing new legislation in 2011.

A policy brief issued today presents an update of analyses of trends and social disparities in obesity originally presented in OECD’s report “Obesity and the Economics of Prevention: Fit not Fat”, published in 2010.

http://www.oecd.org/document/10/0,3746,en_2649_33929_38334282_1_1_1_1,00.html