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UCLA LPPI Study Shows U.S. Can Learn from Latin American Policies to Combat Childhood Obesity

The report highlights the critical connection between childhood obesity and chronic health conditions, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reduce health disparities among Latino communities.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: lppipress@luskin.ucla.edu

 

LOS ANGELES – The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) has released “Front-of-Package Warning Labels, Taxes on Sugar-Sweetened-Beverages, Television Advertising, and Portion Control in Latin American Countries,” a new report that details the alarming rise in childhood obesity rates across the United States, and the disproportionately high burden faced by the Latino community, with an astonishing 26.2% obesity rate among children.

The report was authored by Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante, UCLA LPPIU Faculty Research Director, and UCLA LPPI policy analysts Lucia Felix Beltran and Esmeralda Melgoza and Claudio Mendez, associate professor at Universidad Austral de Chile. The study draws insights from Latin American countries’ successful policies to prevent and manage childhood obesity, including:

  • Front-of-Packaging Warning Labels: Latin American countries have successfully implemented Front-of-Packaging (FoP) regulatory schemes to inform consumers about critical nutritional information. The study examines these systems and how they can be replicated in the United States.
  • Taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs): Latin American countries have introduced SSB taxes to discourage consumption and generate revenue for public health initiatives. The authors assess the impact of these taxes and how effective they have been in those countries.
  • Television Advertising Restrictions: Policies restricting television advertising unhealthy foods and beverages during children’s programming hours have been effective in Latin American countries. The report examines the outcomes and lessons learned from these restrictions.
  • Portion Control Initiatives: Latin American nations have explored portion control strategies to recalibrate social norms around food and beverage consumption. The report evaluates the effectiveness of these initiatives and their potential adoption in the United States.

Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante, lead author of the study, emphasizes the significance of this report in the current environment: “In a rapidly changing policy landscape, this report serves as a vital resource for federal policymakers, health professionals, and community advocates in the United States. By drawing on the successful policies implemented in Latin America, this study provides actionable recommendations to address the complex issue of childhood obesity and improve the health and well-being of America’s youth.”

The report also highlights the critical connection between childhood obesity and chronic health conditions, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reduce health disparities among Latino communities.

“Latin American countries have shown remarkable progress in addressing childhood obesity through effective policies. It’s time for the U.S. to take note and take action. We hope this report will inspire a concerted effort to combat childhood obesity and its associated health disparities in our nation,” added Lucia Felix Beltran.

 

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About UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute:

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute is a non-partisan research institute that seeks to inform, engage, and empower Latinos through innovative research and policy analysis. LPPI aims to promote equitable and inclusive policies that address the needs of the Latino community and advance social justice. latino.ucla.edu