Re: Overall and income specific effect on prevalence of overweight and obesity of 20% sugar sweetened drink tax in UK: econometric and comparative risk assessment modelling study
CCBYNCOpen access
Rapid response to:
Research
Overall and income specific effect on prevalence of overweight and obesity of 20% sugar sweetened drink tax in UK: econometric and comparative risk assessment modelling study
Re: Overall and income specific effect on prevalence of overweight and obesity of 20% sugar sweetened drink tax in UK: econometric and comparative risk assessment modelling study
Jack Winkler recently argued that discounting healthy foods was a better policy option with a greater chance of improving diets than taxes on sodas or specific foods . Vitality has pioneered such approaches as part of its health promotion programs (1). Empirical evidence based on following up over 200 000 people for 2 years shows that discounts on healthy foods do achieve healthy diets (2,3). Public policies need to now draw upon this evidence in developing nutrition and agriculture policies.
1. Patel DN, Nossel C, Alexander E, Yach D.Innovative business approaches for incenting health promotion in sub-saharan Africa: progress and persisting challenges. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2013 Nov-Dec;56(3):356-62. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2013.09.004. Epub 2013 Oct 11.
2. Sturm R, Yach D. Eating better for less. To treat the obesity epidemic, why not lower prices on healthier food. Mod Healthc. 2013 May 27;43(21):27
3. Sturm R, An R, Segal D, Patel D.A cash-back rebate program for healthy food purchases in South Africa: results from scanner data. Am J Prev Med. 2013 Jun;44(6):567-72. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.02.011.
Competing interests:
I have been a fulltime paid employee of PepsiCo; now work for a subsidiary of Discovery Holdings (an insurance and financial services company that places health promotion at the core of its products.
Rapid Response:
Re: Overall and income specific effect on prevalence of overweight and obesity of 20% sugar sweetened drink tax in UK: econometric and comparative risk assessment modelling study
Jack Winkler recently argued that discounting healthy foods was a better policy option with a greater chance of improving diets than taxes on sodas or specific foods . Vitality has pioneered such approaches as part of its health promotion programs (1). Empirical evidence based on following up over 200 000 people for 2 years shows that discounts on healthy foods do achieve healthy diets (2,3). Public policies need to now draw upon this evidence in developing nutrition and agriculture policies.
Derek Yach MBChB MPH
Executive Director
Vitality Institute
dyach@thevitalitygroup.com
References
1. Patel DN, Nossel C, Alexander E, Yach D.Innovative business approaches for incenting health promotion in sub-saharan Africa: progress and persisting challenges. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2013 Nov-Dec;56(3):356-62. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2013.09.004. Epub 2013 Oct 11.
2. Sturm R, Yach D. Eating better for less. To treat the obesity epidemic, why not lower prices on healthier food. Mod Healthc. 2013 May 27;43(21):27
3. Sturm R, An R, Segal D, Patel D.A cash-back rebate program for healthy food purchases in South Africa: results from scanner data. Am J Prev Med. 2013 Jun;44(6):567-72. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.02.011.
Competing interests: I have been a fulltime paid employee of PepsiCo; now work for a subsidiary of Discovery Holdings (an insurance and financial services company that places health promotion at the core of its products.