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    Home > Resource hub > Advanced modelling shows a 20% sugar-sweetened beverage tax is a best buy for reducing child obesity in Australia

Advanced modelling shows a 20% sugar-sweetened beverage tax is a best buy for reducing child obesity in Australia

The dynamic simulation model of Australian child and adolescent overweight and obesity was co-developed with child health researchers, clinicians, advocates, and policy makers.
  • Advanced modelling shows a 20% sugar-sweetened beverage tax is a best buy for reducing child obesity in Australia

    Resource category:

    Policy Briefs Policy Briefs

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The model incorporates expert knowledge and best evidence. It can be used to examine how changes to the underlying determinants, such as dietary behaviours and physical activity, influence the prevalence of overweight and obesity. It can also explore the likely impacts of policies and programs and best buys.

Key messages

  • Evidence shows addressing obesity in early childhood protects people from gaining weight as adults and leads to lifelong health benefits.
  • We developed the Australian Child and Adolescent Obesity Simulation model, which uses data and input from a multidisciplinary group of experts to explore likely impacts of five interventions and identify ‘best buys’.
  • The model showed implementing a 20% sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax is a best buy for reducing child obesity in Australia as it is effective and low‑cost.
  • Implementing an SSB tax was projected to deliver the highest and most sustained reduction in the prevalence of obesity.
  • An SSB tax maintained a significant benefit into adulthood and reached the entire population, unlike the other settings-based interventions we looked at.
  • Combining the sugar-sweetened beverage tax with interventions across the life course was the most effective way of reducing child and adolescent obesity.
  • Overseas evidence demonstrates an SSB tax would lead to population-level reductions in consumption of SSBs, encourage manufacturers to reformulate products to reduce sugar content, and generate funds to support further actions to reduce overweight and obesity.

Associated content

  • Research seminar: Harnessing system science to tackle child and adolescent overweight and obesity

    Resource category: Videos Videos
    Date 08 Nov 2022
  • How does adolescents’ behaviour affect their weight?

    Resource category: Reports Reports
    Date 22 Feb 2021
  • Partnering to develop a decision tool to reduce childhood overweight and obesity

    Resource category: Findings Brief Findings Brief
    Date 19 Feb 2017
  • The value of prevention: childhood obesity early interventions

    News Category: Prevention Centre News
    Date 12 Apr 2022
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Details

DATE 12 Dec 2022

TYPE Policy Briefs

Prevention experts

  • Simon Chiu

    The Sax Institute
    Headshot of Simon Chiu
  • Associate Professor Louise Freebairn

    The University of Sydney
    Headshot of Louise Freebairn
  • Associate Professor Jo-An Occhipinti

    The University of Sydney
    Headshot of Jo-An Occhipinti
  • Professor Louise Baur AM

    The University of Sydney
    Headshot of Louise Baur
  • Dr Kurt Kreuger

    Modeller
  • Dr Adam Skinner

    The Sax Institute

Topics

  • Overweight and obesity ,

Prevention methodologies

  • Systems and complexity ,

Related projects

  • Tackling childhood obesity with big data and dynamic simulation modelling

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More resources

  • The economic costs of alcohol-related harms in New South Wales: Development of an interactive costing tool

    Resource category: Reports Reports
    Date 16 Nov 2022
  • Research seminar: How can we use PHN systems to implement the revised CVD prevention guidelines?

    Resource category: Videos Videos
    Date 25 Oct 2022
  • How the Queensland Health system can embed and support prevention

    Resource category: Findings Brief Findings Brief
    Date 13 Oct 2022

Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

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Funding Partners

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre is funded by the NHMRC, Australian Government Department of Health, ACT Health, Cancer Council Australia, NSW Ministry of Health, Wellbeing SA, Tasmanian Department of Health, and VicHealth. The Australian Government also contributed through the Medical Research Future Fund. Queensland Health became a financial contributor in 2022. The Prevention Centre is administered by the Sax Institute.

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