The challenge 

Unhealthy diets are a major contributor to the global problem of diet-related diseases. 

The solution 

A research programme that examines the prospective impacts of fiscal measures to improve the nutritional quality of diets in south Asia. 

The impact 

Contributing to the aim of reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 30% by 2030. 

 

Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) published guidelines on fiscal policies to promote healthy diets. Professor Franco Sassi, Director of the Centre for Health Economics & Policy Innovation (CHEPI) at Imperial College London, helped to develop the guidelines and the Centre is continuing its policy evaluation work to influence healthy food choices.  

In response to the increase in diet-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity, overweight and malnutrition, the WHO guidance recommends introducing taxes on foods that are high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars and/or salt. These foods tend to be highly processed and are associated with poorer health outcomes. Food prices are a determinant in diet quality and work is ongoing to improve the affordability of healthier foods, while discouraging consumption of unhealthy foods. 

Research for health-behaviour incentives 

CHEPI delivers a programme of research and teaching on health economics, policy and management. The Centre is one of the few in the UK to use microsimulation in its research and this work led to the creation of Health-GPS, a powerful modelling tool that simulates and evaluates the impact of public policy. Health-GPS can effectively model health policy in any given country and is being used in several of CHEPI’s research projects with the aim of improving the nutritional quality of diets. 

Global partnerships for healthier outcomes 

The charity, Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), was set up in 2017 with the aim of preventing 100 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases. CHEPI is working with RTSL to look at the potential impacts of extending current taxes on fizzy drinks in India. Early results using CHEPI’s Health-GPS modelling tool suggest that India’s food tax policies could reduce the intake of unhealthy nutrients by four percentage points. 

 

In other work, Professor Marisa Miraldo, Professor of Economics in CHEPI, is running a diabetes and cardiovascular disease study in countries across south Asia. The study is assessing the impacts of government policies, as well as food marketing, physical activity and school food choices.