Many countries have attempted to combat obesity through individual initiatives, such as taxes on soft drinks, HealthDay reports.
Now, new research suggests that a comprehensive approach may be more effective.
The study, published in the scientific journal The Lancet, indicates that several different regulations can work together to produce better results.
Stricter regulations
In 2016, Chile introduced a law designed to make it easier for consumers to choose healthier foods.
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Products high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, or calories were required to carry clear warning labels on their packaging.
At the same time, the sale of unhealthy products was restricted in schools, and advertising aimed at children was banned.
According to the researchers, the regulations were further tightened in 2018 and 2019, but those changes were not included in the current analysis.
Fewer overweight children
The researchers analyzed data from more than 300,000 Chilean schoolchildren between the ages of four and six.
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They compared trends before and after the law was introduced.
The results showed that the risk of overweight or obesity declined within the first 18 months.
The risk was reduced by 2.9 percent among girls and 2.4 percent among boys.
The researchers believe that even small improvements can have a significant impact later in life.
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Childhood obesity is associated with a higher risk of conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease, according to The Lancet.