Are there any successful policies and programmes to fight overweight and obesity?

Contribution by Christian Häberli in Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum):

A yet unaddressed facet of this debate concerns the role of international trade and trade policy in promoting or preventing obesity and overweight.

Trade contributes to food security where it increases food availability. Trade liberalisation can stimulate hitherto protected local production, increase its efficiency and resilience along the food value chain, and thereby mitigate local food insecurity. In theory, even poor consumers can then better choose the diet which is best for them.