To model the potential value-for-money of implementing proposed unhealthy food advertising restrictions on Western Australian (WA) transport-owned assets to prevent obesity-related diseases.

A cost-benefit analysis using a societal perspective was undertaken to model the policy intervention over a 30-year time horizon. The effectiveness of the intervention was based on a similar policy implemented in the United Kingdom by Transport for London, adapted to the WA context. The ACE-Obesity Policy model, a validated multi-state lifetable Markov model, was used to assess the expected health (quantified as health-adjusted life years (HALY)) and economic outcomes of the intervention’s impact on unhealthy food consumption. The potential cost of policy development and monitoring and revenue impacts on government and industry (outdoor advertising companies) were included in the modelled analysis.

Western Australia.

Greater Perth population.

The cost of implementing the policy was estimated at A$28 million (95% UI [Uncertainty Intervals]: $23-$35), 71% borne by government and the remaining by outdoor advertisers. A mean population weight reduction of 0.58kg (95%UI: 0.28-0.90) was estimated, which translated to 5,906 HALYs gained (95%UI: 2,750-9,084) with a monetary value of A$1,374 million (95%UI: $642-$2,112). Eight percent of the monetised benefits were attributed to healthcare cost savings, while 92% were associated with monetised health gains. The intervention was estimated to generate a net-present value of $1,346 million (95%UI: $614-$2,082) and benefit-cost ratio of 50 (95%UI: 23-81).

Policy to restrict advertising of unhealthy foods on WA transport owned assets is likely to represent excellent value-for-money.