Publication: Using Taxation to Address Noncommunicable Diseases: Lessons from Tonga
Date
2019-06
ISSN
Published
2019-06
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
Tonga has experienced a high burden of
noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the past two decades.
Data indicate the continuing rise of four major NCDs
-cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer,and respiratory
diseases – as the leading causes of premature death and
disability. According to latest data, NCDs accounted for
four out of five leading causes of mortality in Tonga, and
99.9 percent of Tongan adults aged 25–64 are at moderate to
high risk of developing an NCD. The increase in
behavioral-related risk factors such as smoking, poor diet
(e.g. high in sugar, salt, trans-fat and saturated fat, and
low in fruit, vegetables, legumes, fish etc.), harmful
alcohol intake, and physical inactivity are acknowledged as
the major contributing factors to the rise in NCDs in Tonga.
According to its 2012 STEPS Survey, Tonga has one of the
highest rates of overweight and obesity (≥25 kg/
Citation
“World Bank. 2019. Using Taxation to Address Noncommunicable Diseases; Using Taxation to Address Noncommunicable Diseases : Lessons from Tonga. © World Bank, Nuku'alofa, Tonga. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/32063 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”