All are invited to the CEDAR/MRC Epidemiology Seminar by:

Dr Kathryn Backholer, Global Obesity Centre, Deakin University, Australia.

Abstract

Poor diet is a leading cause of disease burden in Australia and globally. Adults and children who experience greater socioeconomic disadvantage, whether from a lower income, education or from living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods, are more likely to consume poorer diets. Population-wide, or “Universal” policies are designed to affect all people regardless of risk or circumstances. These types of policies have the potential to influence overall population diets and health and also health inequalities.  However, health equity effects depend on an impact for higher risk population subgroups in proportion to need.

In this presentation I will discuss our research examining the health equity impact of key population food policies. With a focus on price manipulation for healthy eating, I will draw on a range of epidemiological studies to present evidence on how actions can be taken to rebalance the price of foods towards healthier options, thereby improving population health and health inequities.

About Dr Backholer

Dr Kathryn Backholer is a Senior Research Fellow within the Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Obesity at Deakin University, Australia. She leads a research group that works to build the evidence to support the equitable prevention of diet-related ill-health through policy and practice, with a recent focus on price manipulation for healthy eating. Dr Backholer is the Co-Convener of the Australian Public Health Association Food and Nutrition Special Interest Group and contributes to capacity building and food systems strengthening for the FAO and WHO in the Western Pacific region.

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