Policy-makers must listen to science rather than the food industry when addressing the obesity epidemic, a University of Otago paper published in The Lancet says.
Economist Dr Trent Smith's paper argues that answers to the crisis could be found in the behavioural sciences.
''Our paper in particular makes the point that policy responses should take into account the wealth of knowledge available from research in the behavioural sciences about how people choose foods.
''There is a school of thought ... that when the food industry produces brand-name foods that are highly processed, calorie-rich, and laden with flavour chemicals, the industry is just responding to the desires of consumers.
''But the behavioural sciences reveal that in fact, dietary habits grow out of a wealth of life experiences, and can be influenced by context, advertising messages and exposure during critical periods in childhood.''
Tighter controls over marketing and unhealthy food, education, food taxes, community gardening schemes, and targeted food subsidies were among suggested measures to reduce the problem.
