The future of weight loss drugs is promising, but we must address the root cause: unhealthy food environments. Dr. Catherine Conlon argues that making these drugs affordable is a step in the right direction, but it's not enough. We need to tackle the underlying issue of food culture and accessibility.
The upcoming health technology assessment of Mounjaro's implications is a crucial step. However, the focus should extend beyond the drug itself. The HSE's potential approval of Mounjaro for medical card holders or under the Drug Payment Scheme raises questions. Why isn't there a parallel effort to regulate unhealthy food environments, which contribute to the obesity crisis affecting one in four people? This approach is illogical and requires reevaluation.
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill's potential approval of Mounjaro by the end of the year is a significant development. However, Professor Donal O'Shea's suggestion of limiting availability to those with a BMI over 35 and complications is problematic. Obesity treatments must consider price, marketing, food variety, and convenience, not just individual behavior. The current approach fails to address these non-nutritional drivers.
To create a healthier food environment, we must take action. Here are some suggestions:
Mandatory Food Reformulation: Introduce restrictions on hyper-palatability and calorie density in ultra-processed foods. Kevin Hall's book, Food Intelligence, suggests mandatory targets for salt, sugar, refined grains, and saturated fat reductions. This would gradually reset our national palate.
Healthy Food Pricing: Tax foods like sugary drinks, sweets, and biscuits to make healthy alternatives more affordable. Colombia's tax on ultra-processed foods is an example of this approach.
Supermarket Standards: Ban unhealthy food promotions at store entrances and checkouts. Tax food manufacturers' income to improve product quality. Support businesses offering affordable, healthy prepared meals.
Educational Initiatives: Learn from anti-tobacco campaigns to shift food culture. Japan's school curriculum, which teaches basic nutrition and food culture, is an excellent example. We need to fight back against unhealthy norms and make healthy food a cultural norm.
By implementing these measures, we can create a healthier food environment and reduce obesity risks. The key is to move the burden of improving dietary patterns up the food supply chain, ensuring healthy food is affordable and accessible to all. This is a crucial step towards a healthier population and a more sustainable healthcare system.
