The Lancet: Chile Reduced Childhood Obesity Risk Through Comprehensive Food Policy

A comprehensive set of measures regulating foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, and calories in Chile has been associated with a reduction in obesity risk among school-age children, according to a study published in The Lancet.

Chile has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the world. To address the problem, the country launched a major food environment reform in 2016 through its Food Labelling and Advertising Law (FLAL).

The legislation introduced three key measures: mandatory front-of-package warning labels in the form of black octagons, a ban on the sale of unhealthy foods in schools, and restrictions on the marketing of such products to children.

By targeting consumers, schools, and the advertising environment simultaneously, the policy represents a rare example of a comprehensive national nutrition strategy.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 300,000 schoolchildren aged 4 to 6 years, comparing health outcomes before and after the law was implemented. Following the first phase of FLAL, the risk of overweight or obesity decreased by 2.9% among girls and 2.4% among boys.

A statistically significant effect was observed within just six months of the policy’s introduction, with risk reductions of 1.9% for girls and 2.2% for boys.

The second and third phases of the law, which introduced stricter nutritional thresholds, came into effect in 2018 and 2019 and were not included in the analysis. However, the authors suggest these additional measures may have strengthened the overall impact.

According to Guillermo Paraje, the findings provide strong evidence for other countries that combining warning labels, school food restrictions, and advertising controls can meaningfully reduce childhood obesity rates.

The researchers also emphasize that even modest reductions in excess weight during childhood can have long-term health benefits, lowering the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease later in life.

In an accompanying commentary, experts from the The George Institute for Global Health noted that the study strengthens the case for comprehensive public health strategies. Single interventions—such as a sugar tax alone—are generally less effective than coordinated policies that reshape the entire food environment.

The findings suggest that broad, multi-layered approaches to nutrition policy may play an important role in tackling the global childhood obesity epidemic.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter