Legislative solutions to unhealthy eating and obesity in Australia

SummaryThis paper discusses legislative interventions that have potential to address factors in the food environment that contribute to unhealthy eating patterns and increasing obesity rates in the Australian population, and political barriers to the implementation of these interventions. The paper devotes particular attention to legislative interventions to require disclosure of nutrition information about food and beverage products, which would help to inform consumer choices, and are, therefore, difficult to object to on personal responsibility or ‘nanny state’ grounds. It is suggested that these interventions seem to be gaining political acceptance in Australia, and may provide a starting point for incremental progress.