Health, agricultural, and economic effects of adoption of healthy diet recommendations

Lancet. 2010 Nov 13;376(9753):1699-709. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61352-9.

Abstract

Transition to diets that are high in saturated fat and sugar has caused a global public health concern, as the pattern of food consumption is a major modifiable risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases. Although agri-food systems are intimately associated with this transition, agriculture and health sectors are largely disconnected in their priorities, policy, and analysis, with neither side considering the complex inter-relation between agri-trade, patterns of food consumption, health, and development. We show the importance of connection of these perspectives through estimation of the eff ect of adopting a healthy diet on population health, agricultural production, trade, the economy, and livelihoods,with a computable general equilibrium approach. On the basis of case-studies from the UK and Brazil, we suggest that benefits of a healthy diet policy will vary substantially between different populations, not only because of population dietary intake but also because of agricultural production, trade, and other economic factors.

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture*
  • Brazil
  • Chronic Disease / prevention & control
  • Economics*
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Global Health
  • Health Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Nutrition Policy
  • Nutritional Requirements*
  • United Kingdom