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Gary Sacks

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.

Talking about eating less red and processed meat provokes strong feelings. That's why this new evidence-based report is welcome

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...

Economy

Beyond the spin, beyond the handouts, here’s how to get a handle on what’s really happening on budget night

Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, TV or news websites on budget night. The quickest way to find out what...

Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility

Ivan Vladislavić is Johannesburgs literary linkman. He tells us, in the first pages of his new book, The Near North, that before cities were lit, first by gaslight and later electricity, people of means paid torchbearers...

Why is the London Stock Exchange losing out to the US

London Stock Exchange (LSE), which can trace its heritage to the coffee houses of the 17th century, is failing. The volume of shares traded is sharply declining, and some UK companies are swiftly moving to the US...

Why Germany ditched nuclear before coal – and why it won’t go back

One year ago, Germany took its last three nuclear power stations offline. When it comes to energy, few events have baffled outsiders more. In the face of climate change, calls to expedite the transition away from fossil...

What if the Reserve Bank itself has been feeding inflation? An economist explains

Heres something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its attempt to restrain inflation in May...

Politics

Labour can afford to be far more ambitious with its economic policies – voters are on board

To say that the Labour party is flying high in the polls is something of an understatement. But despite its consistent lead against the Tories, the opposition finds itself in a rather odd position: on the cusp of power but...

History for sale: what does South Africa’s struggle heritage mean after 30 years of democracy?

One of my favourite statues is the one of Nelson Mandela at the Sandton City shopping centre in Johannesburg. Larger than life, its oversized bronze shoes shimmer in the evening light, polished by the hands of many...

Sudan: civil war stretches into a second year with no end in sight

In the early hours of April 15 2023, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a Sudanese paramilitary force attacked the military airstrip in the town of Merowe and deployed troops across strategic locations in Sudans capital,...

Joe Biden Proposes Record 44.6% Capital Gains Tax in Latest Budget Plan That May Favor Cryptocurrencies

President Joe Biden has proposed raising the capital gains tax to an unprecedented 44.6% in a bold fiscal move, targeting the wealthiest Americans. This hike is part of his 2025 budget proposal to reduce income...

Turkey’s suppression of the Kurdish political movement continues to fuel a deadly armed conflict

The world has 91 democracies and 88 autocracies. Yet 71% of the worlds population (some 5.7 billion people) are living under autocratic rule, a big jump from 48% ten years ago. This trend towards authoritarianism can...

Science

A Nasa rover has reached a promising place to search for fossilised life on Mars

While we go about our daily lives on Earth, a nuclear-powered robot the size of a small car is trundling around Mars looking for fossils. Unlike its predecessor Curiosity, Nasas Perseverance rover is explicitly intended to...

The rising flood of space junk is a risk to us on Earth – and governments are on the hook

A piece of space junk recently crashed through the roof and floor of a mans home in Florida. Nasa later confirmed that the object had come from unwanted hardware released from the international space station. The 700g,...

Peter Higgs was one of the greats of particle physics. He transformed what we know about the building blocks of the universe

Peter Higgs, who gave his name to the subatomic particle known as the Higgs boson, has died aged 94. He was always a modest man, especially when considering that he was one of the greats of particle physics the area of...

Could a telescope ever see the beginning of time? An astronomer explains

The James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST for short, is one of the most advanced telescopes ever built. Planning for JWST began over 25 years ago, and construction efforts spanned over a decade. It was launched into space on...

US media coverage of new science less likely to mention researchers with African and East Asian names

When one Chinese national recently petitioned the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to become a permanent resident, he thought his chances were pretty good. As an accomplished biologist, he figured that news...

Technology

SHIB Burn Rate Soars 88% Following Major Shibarium Upgrade Announcement

Following a crucial upgrade announcement for Shibarium, Shibburn reports a dramatic 88.32% increase in the SHIB burn rate, removing millions from circulation and significantly boosting Shiba Inu coin holders. SHIB...

Solana Co-Founder Clashes with Vitalik Buterin, Champions Meme Coin Culture

In a bold social media move, Solanas co-founder Raj Gokal defended meme coins and subtly critiqued Ethereums Vitalik Buterin, stirring controversy in the crypto community. Solanas Gokal Defends Meme Coins, Warns...

Tesla Model 3 Performance Price Surges Days After Debut, Cybertruck Powershare Costs Skyrocket

Just days after Tesla released its Model 3 Performance, the company increased its price by $1,000. Meanwhile, a Tesla Cybertruck owner faces a staggering $30,000 quote for a Powershare installation, which would enable his...

Apple Partners with OpenAI for On-Device AI in iOS 18, Enhancing Privacy

Apple Inc. has reignited discussions with OpenAI to integrate advanced AI features into iOS 18, utilizing large language models entirely on-device. According to a Bloomberg report, this move promises to significantly...

Republic First Bank Shut Down by Regulators, Crypto Prices Tumble

In a significant regulatory move, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities has closed Republic First Bank, marking the first major U.S. bank collapse of 2024. The closure has sparked heated reactions within...