Eating more processed foods from fast food outlets and supermarkets means we are getting fatter and fatter.
A new global study released for World Obesity Day shows some of the fastest-growing countries in the world are set for dietary disaster as the trend of supermarkets and convenience stores spreading junk food diets across the world takes hold.
The study analysed data from 97 countries on retail changes over 15 years, providing the first global insight into how changes in density of chain retailers are driving unhealthy food sales and fuelling obesity rates.
This has serious implications for low- and middle-income countries and the health of their populations.
Just published in Nature Food, a study by researchers from Deakin University in Australia and experts from UNICEF has unveiled a seismic shift in the types of food stores springing up globally over the past 15 years, with serious health implications.
Analysing data from 97 countries on retail changes over the last 15 years, the study showed that the number of chain supermarkets, hypermarkets and convenience stores per 10,000 people increased by 23.6% globally over the period.
With market domination by these types of retailers being the norm in high-income countries, low- and middle-income countries are copying the trend and catching up fast.
In South Asia and south-east Asia, the number of chain retail outlets per person has increased by nearly 10% per year, with a corresponding drop off in independently owned traditional stores.
And in a sign that retail is set for an even bigger shake up, grocery sales from digital retailers (online) increased by 325% over a 10-year period across 27 countries.
The increasing amount of unhealthy food sold was associated with an increase in the prevalence of obesity, which continues to rise in every region of the world and is a global concern.
"Large chain retailers usually hold significant market power, using their dominance over food manufacturers to determine what food is available and what price it's sold at, which has led to the widespread availability of unhealthy foods," says the study's lead author Dr Tailane Scapin, from Deakin University:
."Large chain retailers and food manufacturers also use aggressive marketing strategies to promote unhealthy foods, contributing to poor dietary habits and, as consequence, negatively impacting their customers' health."
Dr Scapin said immediate action was needed to address the impact of changing retail food environments.
"Our findings underscore the importance of regulating the retail environment to make sure that it's healthy foods that are promoted, while the marketing and promotion of unhealthy food products is limited," Scapin said..
"In low and middle-income countries where supermarkets and convenience stores are spreading the fastest, governments have a time-limited opportunity to make sure that these new, modern retail stores actually promote healthy food. We know from the experience in North America, Europe and other high-income regions that once retailers are established, they are very hard to change."
The study's research team called for urgent action from governments, from retailers and from the health promotion workforce to prioritise healthier retail food environments that support sustainable and healthy dietary patterns and positive public health outcomes.
"With this research published on World Obesity Day which has a theme of 'Changing systems for healthier lives', it's important that the promising action being taken by forward-thinking retailers and governments is scaled up globally," Scapin said.
The full study report, with data by country, by geographic region and by country income group, is here.
The work was completed as part of a collaboration between UNICEF and the Centre of Research Excellence in Food Retail Environments for Health: Next Generation in Australia.
For further information visit: healthyfoodretail.com
Image: Leo Sneg, Scop.io
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