Evaluating the Effectiveness of Population Dietary Interventions

While nutritional habits are influenced by numerous, diverse factors beyond the health care system or individual-level control, most prior studies have focused on individual-level interventions or supplementation. While some of these interventions may be helpful, the overall benefits, long-term compliance, sustainability, scale-up, and cost-effectiveness may be relatively limited. In contrast, policy strategies at the organizational, community, or population level could be powerful, sustainable, scalable, and achieve broad impact; while also reaching the most vulnerable populations and reducing disparities. Yet, the cost-effectiveness of specific potential dietary interventions is not established and may also vary depending on the specific dietary factor, disease, population subgroup, and nation or world region targeted. 

To address this gap in knowledge, we will characterize and compare cost-effectiveness of specific diet policy interventions to reduce the burdens of major chronic and infectious diseases.