Every dollar spent on promoting a healthy diet in low- and lower - middle-income countries will eventually yield 12.82US$ worth of benefits. This is according to a recently published report from the World Health Organization, which shows that investing in non-communicable diseases yield major health as well as economic benefits.
The return on investments of reducing unhealthy diets turns out to be the most cost-effective and feasible of all proposed interventions to prevent and control NCD's. Even more effective than reducing alcohol consumption (9.13 US$), targeting lower tobacco use (7.43 US$) and managing cardiovascular diseases (3.29 US$).
To achieve better eating habits, the WHO identifies front-of-pack food labelling as an effective and valuable intervention, along with reformulation of food, improve meal quality in hospitals, schools and workplaces, and consumer education by mass media campaigns.
Choices International welcomes these conclusions, that underline the effectiveness of the focus on reformulation FOP labelling and consumer education. An integrated package of these three actions might promise an even higher effectiveness.
Source: Saving lives, spending less: a strategic response to noncommunicable diseases - WHO/NMH/NVI/18.8.