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The effect of sugar and processed food imports on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 172 countries

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  • Lin, Tracy Kuo
  • Teymourian, Yasmin
  • Tursini, Maitri Shila

Abstract

Background: Studies find that economic, political, and social globalization - as well as trade liberalization specifically - influence the prevalence of overweight and obesity in countries through increasing the availability and affordability of unhealthful food. However, what are the mechanisms that connect globalization, trade liberalization, and rising average body mass index (BMI)? We suggest that the various sub-components of globalization interact, leading individuals in countries that experience higher levels of globalization to prefer, import, and consume more imported sugar and processed food products than individuals in countries that experience lower levels of globalization. Method: This study codes the amount of sugar and processed food imports in 172 countries from 1995 to 2010 using the United Nations Comtrade dataset. We employ country-specific fixed effects (FE) models, with robust standard errors, to examine the relationship between sugar and processed foods imports, globalization, and average BMI. To highlight further the relationship between the sugar and processed food import and average BMI, we employ a synthetic control method to calculate a counterfactual average BMI in Fiji. Conclusion: We find that sugar and processed food imports are part of the explanation to increasing average BMI in countries; after controlling for globalization and general imports and exports, sugar and processed food imports have a statistically and substantively significant effect in increasing average BMI. In the case of Fiji, the increased prevalence of obesity is associated with trade agreements and increased imports of sugar and processed food. The counterfactual estimates suggest that sugar and processed food imports are associated with a 0.5 increase in average BMI in Fiji.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin, Tracy Kuo & Teymourian, Yasmin & Tursini, Maitri Shila, 2018. "The effect of sugar and processed food imports on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 172 countries," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101053, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:101053
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    2. Abrania Marrero & Andrea Lόpez-Cepero & Ramón Borges-Méndez & Josiemer Mattei, 2022. "Narrating agricultural resilience after Hurricane María: how smallholder farmers in Puerto Rico leverage self-sufficiency and collaborative agency in a climate-vulnerable food system," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(2), pages 555-571, June.
    3. Jose B. Rosales Chavez & Meg Bruening & Punam Ohri-Vachaspati & Rebecca E. Lee & Megan Jehn, 2021. "Street Food Stand Availability, Density, and Distribution Across Income Levels in Mexico City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Luckstead, Jeff & Devadoss, Stephen, 2021. "The Effects of COVID-19-Induced Global Economic Recession on Processed Food Trade," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315856, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Fabrizio Ferretti & Michele Mariani & Elena Sarti, 2022. "Does the Prevalence of Obesity Affect the Demand for Soft Drinks? Evidence from Cross-Country Panel Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-12, January.
    6. Gaironeesa Hendricks & Natalie Savona & Anaely Aguiar & Olufunke Alaba & Sharmilah Booley & Sonia Malczyk & Emmanuel Nwosu & Cecile Knai & Harry Rutter & Knut-Inge Klepp & Janetta Harbron, 2022. "Adolescents’ Perspectives on the Drivers of Obesity Using a Group Model Building Approach: A South African Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Globalization; Imports; Obesity; Synthetic control method;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N0 - Economic History - - General

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