Associate Professor, Deakin University
Gary Sacks is an Associate Professor and ARC DECRA Fellow at the Global Obesity Centre at Deakin University. Gary’s research focuses on policies for the prevention of obesity and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Gary’s research has been included as part of The Lancet Series on Obesity in 2015 and 2011, and the ACE-Prevention study, which examined the cost-effectiveness of over 100 interventions for disease prevention in Australia. Gary has also co-authored several reports for the World Health Organization (WHO) related to obesity prevention. Gary co-founded INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity / NCDs Research, Monitoring and Action Support) - a global network that aims to monitor food environments. He led the development of a Food Policy Index for Australia, that assessed Australian governments on their obesity prevention policies.
Gary completed his PhD in public health at Deakin University in 2011. His PhD thesis investigated policies for obesity prevention, including studies on the cost-effectiveness of taxes on unhealthy food and improved nutrition labelling.
Gary has a broad range of international public health research and policy experience. This includes research placements at the World Health Organization (Switzerland), Harvard University (USA), the University of Oxford (UK), and the International Telecommunications Union (Switzerland). Prior to entering the field of public health, Gary worked as a management consultant, providing strategic business advice to multi-national corporations and State and Federal governments in Australia. Gary has tertiary qualifications in economics, information systems and health informatics.
Jul 17, 2023 12:53 pm UTC| Health
Emotions can run high when the topic of how much red and processed meat to eat is raised. For many of us, eating these foods is culturally important often tied to specific dishes and traditions. Thats why this weeks...
Social media platforms need to do more to stop junk food marketers targeting children
Jun 21, 2020 11:41 am UTC| Technology
In Australia and around the world, junk food companies are targeting children on social media. In our new study, we found most major social media platforms have restrictions on the advertising of tobacco, alcohol and...
Supermarkets claim to have our health at heart. But their marketing tactics push junk foods
May 20, 2020 15:41 pm UTC| Business
Supermarkets like to portray themselves as having the health of the community at heart. And in the middle of a pandemic, were all grateful supermarkets are still open and, for the most part, the shelves are well...
Politicians who become lobbyists can be bad for Australians' health
Sep 25, 2019 01:13 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
The impacts of heavy drinking, gambling and unhealthy food are among the leading causes of preventable health harm in Australia. And for the most part, we know what to do to reduce them. Most of us would hope the...
Supermarkets put junk food on special twice as often as healthy food, and that's a problem
Aug 16, 2019 06:46 am UTC| Insights & Views Health
Half-price chips, two for one chocolates, buy one get one free soft drinks: Australian supermarkets make it very easy for us to fill our trolleys with junk food. Add in the bonus of an Ooshie or a Little Shop...
What's the most value for money way to tackle obesity? Increase taxes on alcohol
Dec 16, 2018 13:06 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health
We dont often equate the kilojoules we drink in our glass of wine or pint of beer with the weight that accumulates around our middle. But our new study shows increasing the price of alcohol is the most value for money...
There’s an extra $1 billion on the table for NT schools. This could change lives if spent well