Front-of-pack nutrition warning labels in Latin America and the Caribbean
Experiences in its design and implementation
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- Español
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Highlights
The increase in the prevalence of childhood overweight in Latin America and the Caribbean is a worrying trend. According to The State of the World’s Children 2019, 4 million children under 5 years of age suffer from overweight in the region. In recent decades, records reveal an increase in cases: more than 1 in 3 children between 5 and 19 years of age have overweight. In this scenario, the countries in the region with the highest prevalence are Argentina, Chile and Mexico.
People who are affected by non-communicable diseases, including overweight and obesity, are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. In particular, overweight and obesity represent a major challenge for governments as they formulate public policies to improve people’s food environments.
The growing burden of overweight in Latin America and the Caribbean presents an opportunity to research and document experiences across the region. This can serve as a model for developing effective interventions and strategies to prevent childhood overweight and obesity, such as designing and implementing front-of-pack labels to warn consumers.
