Abstract
The study analyzed the initiatives of prevention and control of childhood obesity, especially those of Adequate and Healthy Food Promotion (PAAS) which have been part of the policies of the Brazilian federal government for the last 15 years. All documents that feature PAAS initiatives in the food and nutrition security, as well as public health policy fields, were evaluated according to the following criteria: (1) the approach to PAAS initiatives; (2) the aspects of obesitythat they intend to affect and (3) potential interest disputes. The main PAAS initiatives identified are intended to encourage: food and nutrition education; agroecological production systems; family agriculture; food accessibility; healthy environments and regulatory measures. These initiatives alter different aspects of childhood obesityand highlight different conceptions about the problem and affect different interests. We highlight the disputes between the interests of the processed foods and agribusiness corporations, and the governmental and corporate sectors guided by PAAS objectives. Measures aimed at regulating purchases and publicizing unhealthy products for children, are those that best express the interests involved.
Highlights
Obesity is being considered a priority for Brazilian government policy ever since the first National Food and Nutrition Policy (PNAN)[1] was approved when it emerged as a public health issue because of its rising prevalence
The organization of the Nutrition Assistance in the Unified Health System (SUS) is a central guideline of the PNAN, which states that care related to food and nutrition should be a part of integrated care in the Health Care Network (RAS).In this context, we highlight the workflows and directives for the Treatment of Overweightand Obesity[22], which establishes the initiatives that must be implemented across the RAS, including those of PAAS, planned according to the knowledge of the population’s epidemiological and nutritional scenario
The main PAAS initiatives identified are intended to encourage: food and nutrition education; agroecological production systems; family agriculture; food accessibility; healthy environments and regulatory measures. They provide for the encouragement, support, and protection of the population in enabling the adoption of healthy food practices
Summary
Obesity is being considered a priority for Brazilian government policy ever since the first National Food and Nutrition Policy (PNAN)[1] was approved when it emerged as a public health issue because of its rising prevalence. In this scenario, childhood obesity becomes relevant because of its increasing magnitude in the national and international context[2,3]. Childhood is a worrisome phase because, in addition to the diseases associated with obesity, the risk increases in adulthood, generating economic and health consequences for the individual and for society[2,3]. Studies show that the main causes of obesity in children are the consumption of nutrient-poor products laced with high sugar and fat content, sugary drinks and insufficient physical activity[2,3]
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