Abstract
BackgroundPapua New Guinea (PNG) experienced positive GDP growth at approximately 4.3% per year during the last decade. With increases in overall wealth within the country, PNG is facing a double burden of malnutrition: comparatively high child stunting rates and a growing overweight and obesity epidemic. We focus on the latter by evaluating trends in agri-food import data from 2001 to 2018 and household consumption data from 2018 and 2009/10.ResultsThe analysis presented in this paper raises three red flags. First, international food import data suggest that the demand for ultra-processed, sugar-sweetened beverages and food have increased substantially over time in PNG. Sugar-sweetened beverages dominated the largest growth in processed food imports, increasing by 23% per capita per year between 2001 and 2018. Second, households across the country with a greater food expenditure on sugar-sweetened beverages have a higher probability of an overweight child (under 5 years old). Last, the probability of soft-drink consumption in PNG increases with greater income acquisition and improved market access. While the price of a soft drink is negatively correlated with the quantity consumed, analysis suggests that total household income has a quantitatively larger (and positive) association with soft drink consumption.ConclusionsTaxing (or increasing taxes on) sugar-sweetened beverages may not be a sufficient policy mechanism to curb overconsumption of soft drinks in PNG. Education and advocacy programs should be fostered that integrate improved dietary information on packaging, as well as greater access to and understanding of nutrition and diet information of common household consumption items. While increases in household income and market access are crucial to economic growth and transformation, PNG’s economic transition must be dovetailed with programs that expand and enhance health and nutrition information and education to improve household consumption decisions and overall household wellbeing.
Highlights
Papua New Guinea (PNG) experienced positive GDP growth at approximately 4.3% per year during the last decade
Factors associated with child overweight prevalence: Household Income Expenditure Survey (HIES) (2009/10) The HIES 2009/10 analysis utilizes the subsample of households that reported a child under 5 years old with complete anthropometry data (1721 out of 4191 households had at least one child with complete anthropometric data and sufficient household consumption and expenditure data)
Descriptive statistics suggest that sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was significantly more prevalent among households with at least one overweight or obese child (Table 6)
Summary
Papua New Guinea (PNG) experienced positive GDP growth at approximately 4.3% per year during the last decade. With increases in overall wealth within the country, PNG is facing a double burden of malnutrition: comparatively high child stunting rates and a growing overweight and obesity epidemic. We focus on the latter by evaluating trends in agri-food import data from 2001 to 2018 and household consumption data from 2018 and 2009/10. The double burden of malnutrition (defined by high rates of child stunting and high rates of overweight and obesity prevalence) in the Pacific Islands is challenging policymakers on both ends of the nutrition spectrum. PNG has experienced positive GDP growth at approximately 4.3% per year for the last decade, and more than 5% during the last 5 years (World Development Indicators, 2019). Lack of recent data on household consumption and expenditure trends and robust anthropometric measurements in PNG make it near impossible to target policies and investments that promote specific nutrition and food security outcomes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call