Author: Suneha Seetahul, Senior Research Fellow, Applied Microeconomics, University of Sydney

One in two people in the Pacific Islands is classified as overweight (with a body mass index of 25–29) or obese (a BMI 30 or above). This is a problem because obesity increases the risk of health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes and some cancers. While various factors contribute to obesity, limited access to clean drinking water plays an overlooked role. Without a safe drinking water supply, many households may turn to sugary drinks as an alternative. This type of substitution increases the risk of obesity. Our new research explored how water insecurity in the Pacific island nation…