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UNICEF Argentina and PAHO recommend comprehensive policies against childhood obesity
Argentina
30 abril 2019

NUTRITION

Healthy eating. On April 11, UNICEF presented at the Argentine Congress its report “Obesity: an issue of children and adolescents (NNyA). Policy recommendations for their protection” in which it proposes four regulatory guidelines for a comprehensive approach to the issue. The meeting was attended by specialists from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Chilean senator Guido Girardi (Partido Por la Democracia-opposition), who referred to the experience of his own country in the application of its labeling law, singled out internationally as a beacon measure for others to follow. Girardi stated that in “Latin America there are more possibilities to advance than in other continents”, where industry pressures are more intense. UNICEF Argentina and PAHO will continue to promote this work agenda jointly.

According to data presented by UNICEF and PAHO, from 1975 to 2016 the average level of obesity in Latin America almost doubled, while in Argentina the rates of childhood and juvenile obesity and overweight continue to rise. This situation was confirmed by the 4th National Survey of Risk Factors 2018 carried out by the Argentine Ministry of Health. The local director of UNICEF pointed to the lack of related public policies and clear regulations in Argentina and stressed the need to combat “obesogenic environments” – those generated by high exposure to the marketing of unhealthy foods, lack of nutritional information and education, the a shortage of regulation on school environments and conditions that stimulate physical activity.

In line with this assessment, UNICEF is promoting four policies. First, the use of warning labels on the front of food packages to make consumption decisions more health oriented and as a concept around which to pursue additional policies. Second, the prohibition of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of foods and beverages of low nutritional value, in particular that aimed at NNyA. Thirdly, the promotion of healthy school environments, including an exclusive supply of healthy and natural foods, food education and physical activity. Fourth, the establishment of special taxes on foods of low nutritional quality and subsidies for healthy foods.

The representatives of UNICEF and Girardi questioned the effectiveness of self-regulation in terms of labelling and advertising, while PAHO indicated that the less regulation there is, the greater the consumption of ultraprocessed food. The solution, they maintain, must be integral, requires legislation and the commitment of the different areas of government. In this context, they highlighted regulatory advances in the United States on the content of added sugars; in Mexico, on sweetened beverages; in Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay, on front labeling; and in Brazil and Costa Rica, on the protection of school environments. Currently, 18 bills on the subject are to be discussed by the Argentine Senate.  

Next Steps

UNICEF Argentina and PAHO will continue to promote this work agenda. Key to this will be the alliances that can be made with different political spaces of the Argentine Congress. Girardi, who is a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), pledged to cooperate with the application of the label in Peru, Uruguay and Guatemala, and there will also be efforts to promote the system in Canada and Mexico.

 

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