Building momentum: lessons on implementing evidence-informed NCD prevention policies

A series of reports to help policymakers overcome common barriers to implementing evidence-informed nutrition and physical activity policy.

Establishing robust policies to promote physical activity in primary healthcare

Building Momentum 4 report cover

Lessons on implementing robust restrictions of food and non-alcoholic beverage marketing to children

Young person viewing food adverts on TV

Lessons on implementing a robust front-of-pack food label

A couple shopping for food

Lessons on implementing a robust sugar-sweetened beverage tax

Water bottling line for processing and bottling black carbonated juice into bottles

The prevention of cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is one of the most significant public health challenges of the 21st century, requiring a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach in response. However, countries are not taking sufficient action to meet global NCD targets.

Implementing evidence-based policies is essential to tackle the growing burden caused by diet and inactivity-related NCDs such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Policymakers face increasing barriers and challenges to introducing and implementing such policies, and this research seeks to establish ways to help policymakers overcome these barriers and challenges.

The World Cancer Research Fund International Building Momentum series takes the lessons learned from governments who have implemented evidence-informed policies and collates them with the published literature to succinctly outline how to design and implement a robust nutrition or physical activity policy. Policymakers, academics and advocates from around the world are interviewed to inform the series, providing essential guidance on how to overcome common barriers and challenges in the policy process.

The overarching lessons of the series can be used to develop various policies: be prepared with evidence; carefully consider local context; be strategic; develop a broad base of support; scrutinise the policy design; be prepared for push-back. – Prof Boyd Swinburn, University of Auckland