Measuring Cost and Affordability of Current vs. Healthy Diets in Argentina: An Application of Linear Programming and the INFORMAS Protocol (2021)

By:
Gabriel Giacobone, Maria Victoria Tiscornia, Leila Guarnieri, Luciana Castronuovo, Sally Mackay, Lorena Allemandi
Date:
2024
Resource type:
Blogs/news/opinion
Link:

This study assesses the cost and affordability differences between current diets and healthier alternatives in Argentina, using the INFORMAS protocol and linear programming. Results show that healthier diets require 32% more spending on average than current diets, with many households unable to afford them. The findings underscore the economic barriers to healthier eating in Argentina, where over 60% of adults and 40% of children are overweight or obese, emphasizing the need for policies that promote affordable access to nutritious foods.