Governance of Multi-sectoral Interventions to Promote Healthy Living in Latin America and the Caribbean
The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region has been experiencing a rapid demographic and epidemiological transition which has important health and economic consequences. Not only is the population aging rapidly, but it is also experiencing major...
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| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2014
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/01/17262177/governance-multi-sectoral-interventions-promote-healthy-living-latin-america-caribbean http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17045 |
| Summary: | The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC)
region has been experiencing a rapid demographic and
epidemiological transition which has important health and
economic consequences. Not only is the population aging
rapidly, but it is also experiencing major changes in
lifestyle. This has altered the disease and mortality
profile, reflected in the increasing weight of
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease,
stroke, cancer and diabetes. These conditions also represent
an increasing economic and development threat to households,
health systems, and economies. The study also ranked tobacco
use among the first five risk factors in LAC and alcohol
abuse as the main risk factor in all sub-regions, with the
exception of the Caribbean and southern LAC, where alcohol
was ranked among the first five. However, voluntary actions
are often ineffective and policymakers have replaced them
with regulations. For example, in Europe, Canada, and the
US, early voluntary nutrition labeling actions failed to
meet government standards and expectations which led
governments to use mandatory guidelines. In New York City,
authorities encouraged restaurants to voluntarily provide
easily-seen nutrition information to customers, but, as this
did not occur, the City passed a regulation. In general,
policymakers and health advocates often gauge and mobilize
public opinion to support these health promotion policies
and ensure their design and implementation. |
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