Reducing the role of the food, tobacco, and alcohol industries in non-communicable disease risk in South Africa
Loading...
Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Abstract
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) impose a growing burden on the health, economy, and development of South Africa.
According to the World Health Organization, four risk factors, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, and
physical inactivity, account for a significant proportion of major NCDs. We analyze the role of tobacco, alcohol, and food
corporations in promoting NCD risk and unhealthy lifestyles in South Africa and in exacerbating inequities in NCD distribution
among populations. Through their business practices such as product design, marketing, retail distribution, and pricing and
their business practices such as lobbying, public relations, philanthropy, and sponsored research, national and transnational
corporations in South Africa shape the social and physical environments that structure opportunities for NCD risk behavior.
Since the election of a democratic government in 1994, the South African government and civil society groups have used
regulation, public education, health services, and community mobilization to modify corporate practices that increase NCD
risk. By expanding the practice of health education to include activities that seek to modify the practices of corporations as
well as individuals, South Africa can reduce the growing burden of NCDs.
Description
Keywords
Alcohol and substance abuse, Diet, Health policy, Social determinant, Tobacco
Citation
Delobelle, P. et al. (2016). Reducing the role of the food, tobacco, and alcohol industries in non-communicable disease risk in South Africa. Health Education and Behavior,43(1S), 70S–81S