Research Action Award for advancing obesity prevention policy

Professor Sacks has been recognised for his initiation and leadership of ‘Food-EPI Australia initiative: advancing obesity prevention policy’ at the Sax Institute’s 2023 Research Action Awards.

The Food Policy Index benchmarks the obesity prevention policies of federal and state and territory governments in Australia against international best practice using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) across a range of areas covering environments (such as food composition, labelling, promotion, prices and provision) as well as infrastructure support (such as leadership, governance, monitoring and funding) for effective policy implementation.

The assessment process also included prioritisation of recommendations for improving population nutrition and creating healthier food environments, and has contributed to the National Preventive Health Strategy and the National Obesity Strategy.

I’m really honoured to have received this award. Hundreds of people across the public health community have contributed to this research over a number of years so I’d like to thank them for their continued advocacy for change in this really important area of population health.

Professor Gary Sacks

The original Food Policy Index, the first of which was created as part of a 2017 Prevention Centre-funded project with the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition Research (GLOBE).

This Research Action Award was dedicated to the memory of Associate Professor Sonia Wutzke, former Prevention Centre Deputy Director.