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Policy implementation and recommended actions to create healthy food environments using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI): a comparative analysis in South Asia

mperial College London, UK. The George Institute for Global Health, UK. Imperial College London, School of Public Health, UK. City University of London, UK. Ministry of Health, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Scientific Institute of Public Health (Sciensano), Brussels, Belgium. Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India. BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan. Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, India. Medical Research Institute, Ministry of Health, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Institute of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, India. Max Healthcare, New Delhi, India. University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Lahore, Pakistan. University of Jaffna, Kokkuvil, Sri Lanka. University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka.

description

The research aimed to analyze food policies and infrastructure in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to understand how they support the prevention of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It sought to identify gaps in these policies using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) framework, which helps assess how well countries are doing in creating healthy food environments. The results showed that while all countries have made some efforts to implement food policies, none received strong ratings across the Food-EPI indicators. Here's a brief summary of the findings by country: Bangladesh: Most indicators were rated weak, with 62% showing weak implementation and some even rated as non-existent. Although there were efforts in food pricing and labeling, overall, the policies were not effectively promoting healthy eating. India: India had a mix of weak (43%) and moderate (57%) ratings. It had some positive policies, such as labeling regulations and a tax on unhealthy foods, indicating a more balanced approach compared to other countries. Pakistan: This country had the lowest performance, with 75% of indicators rated as weak and 23% as non-existent. There were no significant policies in place to promote healthy food environments, and only a small portion of policies related to labeling showed moderate implementation. Sri Lanka: Results were similar to Pakistan, with 64% of indicators rated weak and 17% as non-existent. The country did have moderate ratings in labeling and some monitoring efforts, but overall, the food retail policies were lacking.

Thematic area

Policy and Regulation, Availability, Accessibility, Prices, Marketing and Regulation, Labelling

Researchers

Elisa Pineda Petya Atanasova Nalinda Tharanga Wellappuli Dian Kusuma Himali Herath Alexa Blair Segal Stefanie Vandevijvere Ranjit Mohan Anjana Abu Ahmed Shamim Saira Afzal Fahmida Akter Faiza Aziz Ananya Gupta Abu Abdullah Hanif Mehedi Hasan Renuka Jayatissa Sujeet Jha Vinitaa Jha Prasad Katulanda Khadija Irfan Khawaja Balachandran Kumarendran Menka Loomba Sara Mahmood Malay Kanthi Mridha Rajendra Pradeepa Garudam Raveendiran Aarthi Akansha Tyagi Anuradhani Kasturiratne Franco Sassi Marisa Miraldo

Funding

This research was funded by the NIHR (16/136/68 and 132960) with aid from the UK Government for global health research. Petya Atanasova also acknowledges funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) (ES/P000703/1).

Status

Finished

Contact information

Corresponding author: e.pineda@imperial.ac.uk