March 4. World Obesity Day
GAZETTE
ARGENTINA: THE EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF THE “LABELING LAW” WILL PREVENT MORE THAN 100.000 CASES OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN GIRLS, BOYS AND ADOLESCENTS
A NEW STUDY PROJECTS THE IMPACT OF THE STANDARD IN THE SHORT AND LONG TERM, INCLUDING THOUSANDS OF CASES OF DISEASES IN YOUR ADULT LIFE.
The effective application of the so-called “front labeling law” could reduce the consumption of sugary drinks by almost 25%, which in the short term will prevent more than 100.000 cases of overweight and obesity in girls, boys and adolescents. In the long term, the implementation of this law will also have Multiple benefits measurable for adult health.
The results emerge from a modeling study led by the Institute of Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS), an academic institution affiliated with the UBA Faculty of Medicine, in conjunction with the Inter-American Heart Foundation (FIC); the National University of Río Negro; the Ramón Carillo Hospital of Bariloche and the CIESP (an executing unit of CONICET). The work had the endorsement of Unicef Argentina.
“According to the latest National Nutrition and Health Survey (2019), in Argentina excess weight in boys, girls and adolescents exceeds 40%, The consumption of sugary drinks being one of the most important risk factors. Obesity and overweight will generate thousands of new cases of chronic diseases in their adult lives. High consumption of sugary drinks is a real public health problem, which forces us to take urgent actions based on evidence to confront it,” expressed the Dr. Andrea Alcaraz, cardiologist and coordinator of Health Technology Assessment at the IECS.
Law 27.642 on the Promotion of Healthy Eating, popularly known as the “front labeling law,” was enacted in October 2021. It not only regulates the information that food and beverage containers must display. (for example, octagonal seals that warn about excess sugars, sodium, calories or fat), but also provides that foods and beverages containing at least one warning seal cannot be sold or promoted in educational establishments or neither be the subject of advertisements aimed at girls, boys and adolescents.
In the new study, which was funded by the National Ministry of Health through a multicenter Salud Investiga grant, Dr. Alcaraz and her colleagues estimated that currently 393.105 girls, boys and adolescents are overweight and obese attributable to the consumption of sugary drinks. With the implementation of the law, the consumption of these drinks could decrease by 23,7%, which would translate into 104.540 cases of overweight and obesity avoided..
In the long term, this will also have its correlation in their adult life: researchers estimate that 285.059 cases of overweight and obesity in adulthood, 73.738 cases of diabetes, 19.104 cardiovascular diseases (including strokes), 29.624 musculoskeletal disorders, 27.340 could be avoided. cases of chronic kidney disease and 23.276 of cancer and other pathologies.
Likewise, The health system could save 26.530 million Argentine pesos each year as direct expenses for the care for diseases derived from the consumption of these drinks.
Sugary drinks, including soda, juice, flavored water, energy and sports drinks, are the main source of added sugars in the diet. The girls, children and adolescents consume, on average, 127 liters of these drinks per year, one of the highest figures in Latin America.
In addition to Dr. Alcaraz, Dr. Lucas Perelli and the economist participated in the IECS study. Natalia Espinola; nutritionist Leila Guarnieri for FIC; the pediatrician Marcos Clausen from the Bariloche Hospital; nutritionist Andrea Graciano and pediatrician Germán Guaresti from UNRN.
To learn more about the consumption of sugary drinks in Argentina, click here.
ABOUT IECS: The IECS is an independent, non-profit academic institution dedicated to research, education and technical cooperation in health. Founded in 2002, it is an institution affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) that houses a CONICET executing unit, a WHO Collaborating center and a Cochrane Center. The mission of the IECS is “to contribute to improving global health, generating and promoting the application of the best scientific evidence.”
IECS PRESS CONTACT:
Lic. Mariana Comolli, Coordinator of the Communication Unit.
Tel.: (011) 4777-8767 ext. 133. mcomolli@iecs.org.ar