[Which prevention policy is effective?]

Abstract

Population-based policies, such as sugar taxes, can play a crucial role in preventing lifestyle-related diseases. These policies target the entire population and require limited individual effort to benefit from them. However, assessing the effectiveness of such policies proves challenging due to the long time between exposure and health outcomes, as well as their small effects at the individual level. To identify knowledge gaps regarding effectiveness, a narrative literature review was conducted. This review consistently showed evidence supporting the beneficial effects of subsidies on fruits and vegetables, taxes on unhealthy foods, mass media campaigns, and nutrition and physical education in schools in promoting healthier lifestyles. Since randomized controlled trials for population-based policies are often not feasible, studies should focus more on combining different research methods such as natural experiments, observational studies, and modeling studies.