Abstract
Aotearoa New Zealand’s (NZ) approach to the obesogenic food environment is not working. Action on prevention is vital in the context of increasing pressures on the health system, and the lack of improvement in obesity trends impacting on chronic disease burden into the future. Effective public health policies are urgently needed to reverse the deteriorating obesogenic food environment and improve nutrition in NZ.
A UK-style sugary drinks industry levy is a key facet of health policy for improving nutrition and preventing dental decay. Recently published evidence from Tonga shows how excise taxes directed towards unhealthy foods were effective at increasing prices and decreasing import volumes of these foods.