Identifying implementation gaps and priorities for the Singapore government to improve food environment policies
Perspectives from a local expert panel
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15091151 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Zoey Tay (0000-0002-6660-5980, National University Health System), Clare Whitton (0000-0003-1991-2432, Curtin University), Rob M van Dam (0000-0002-7354-8734, National University Health System), Kee Seng Chia (0000-0002-0629-5570, National University Health System), Boyd Swinburn, Boyd Swindurn (0000-0002-2131-045X, Auckland University of Technology), Stefanie Vandevijvere (0000-0003-3225-7524, Sciensano (Belgium)), Salome A Rebello (0000-0001-6138-7999, National University Health System, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 585-592 |
| Publication date | 2021-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Public Health Nutrition (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s1368980020003468 |
| PMID | 33046170 |
| OpenAlex | W3091983353 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 22 |
Objective: Singapore, an urbanised, developed nation, with a high reliance on food importation and a high prevalence of eating out is facing rising rates of obesity and diabetes. The objective of the current study was to characterise and evaluate the Singapore government’s policies to improve the food environment and to identify and prioritise concrete actions. Design: The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index tool and process were used. An expert panel rated the Singapore government’s implementation of forty-seven indicators compared with international best practice in 2018. Indicators were prioritised, and specific recommendations were proposed by panel. Setting: Singapore. Participants: Twenty experts primarily from academia. Results: As compared with international benchmarks, the level of implementation of most indicators (thirty-three indicators, 70 %) by the Singapore government was evaluated as being at least moderate. Highly rated indicators included those related to provision of healthier meals at school, supporting the use of healthier ingredients by food vendors and governmental leadership. More policy indicators (6, 26 %) as compared with infrastructure support indicators (2, 8 %) received a ‘very little or no implementation’ rating. After rating, the experts prioritised eleven indicators and proposed thirty-one actions informed by several considerations including those of effectiveness, political acceptability, feasibility and unique characteristics of food retail in Singapore. Conclusions: Supported by documented evidence, an independent expert panel identified areas of strengths and provided specific recommendations to meaningfully improve the Singapore food environment to facilitate healthier eating. Fundamental recommendations including improving nutrition profiling and strengthening monitoring systems have the potential to positively influence environments across policy domains
Business · Environmental health · Government (linguistics · Profiling (computer programming · Computer Science · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Informas ( I nternational N etwork for F ood and O besity/non‐communicable diseases R esearch, M onitoring and A ction S upport)
Monitoring and benchmarking government policies and actions to improve the healthiness of food environments
Public acceptability of government intervention to change health-related behaviours
The global obesity pandemic
Scaling-up an efficacious school-based physical activity intervention
Current and future economic burden of diabetes among working-age adults in Asia
Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in 2018
Level of implementation of best practice policies for creating healthy food environments
Extent of implementation of food environment policies by the Malaysian Government
Relationship between the home environment and fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged 6–12 years
Progress in Tobacco Control in Singapore
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Thematic Analysis
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0.67 |
| Citation span | 2023 - 2023 (1) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |