translated from Spanish: Experts analyze actual results tagged with law to combat obesity in the country

considering that obesity has become one health problems more serious of today’s world and that in our country, 34% of children under six years are overweight, the Centro de Estudios Públicos conducted the seminar “effects of the labeling law: changing consumption habits”, which were given to know r important studies on consumption habits and how the industry has reformulated part of their products following the implementation of the regulations.
The meeting began with the Undersecretary of health, Paula Daza, who argued that obesity is one of the most important pandemics worldwide and that so far no country has been able to control it. “The solutions are complex and very important is the participation of all, public policies are fundamental,” he said.
In addition, he said that in the Government of President Sebastián Piñera various public policies have been launched to combat obesity, as the Act of labeling and the program live healthy, among others. “The labeling law has had a good reception by the community, people feel more informed.”
For his part, the head of Division of public policies of the Ministry of health, Daniela Godoy, warned of the seriousness of the problem: “we are the fifth country in the world with more childhood obesity and children belonging to the lower quintiles have higher percentage of obesity than the higher quintiles”.
In that sense, it unveiled malnutrition due to excess that exists in adults and pregnant women, where he is under the recommended doses of fruits and vegetables, water, fish and vegetables.
Also evidenced that there is a certain difference in eating habits between those who have more years of study and better socioeconomic levels.
The purpose of the labelling law – he emphasized – is increase healthy eating and contribute to the decrease in prevalence of obesity and non-communicable diseases to 2030. For that seeks to avoid the rising short-term rates and decrease in the long term.
For that explained that the Act provides three measures, the first is the prohibition of the sale of foods “high in” in the schools; the second, the regulation of advertising aimed at children and the third, encouraging the purchase and consumption of healthier foods and avoid the intake of nutrients critical of the front label.
Control demonstrates that there is a high compliance with the law and that over 90% of the population recognizes the seals and says that it influences their purchase decision.
Marisol Figueroa, technical manager of food and beverage Chile, explained that the process of reformulation of a product is a complex task that requires time and research. Evaluate costs, maintain quality, safety and properties of the product, and that the reformulation does not imply higher price to the consumer, are not issues of rapid solution.
In addition, it is necessary to address the issue of portions to make more understandable to the public the warnings that appear in the products.
The expert said that 17.7% has reformulated foods to be healthier, according to figures reported by Sofofa.
Meanwhile, the Director of the research center of food environments and obesity prevention, Camila Corvalán, concluded the seminar showing the preliminary results of a study that reveals that it decreased by 45% the amount of beverages “high on” that There are in the market and the effects it has had on television advertising.

Original source in Spanish