Roland Sturm

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or e-mail media@rand.org.

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Senior Economist

Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in economics, M.A. in statistics, Stanford University; M.S. in economics, University of Florida

Contact Information

Overview

Biography

Roland Sturm is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation. His research has focused on how urban design and neighborhood characteristics affect lifestyles and health; the effects of obesity, physical activity, smoking, and problem drinking on health care costs; changes of mental health and substance abuse services under managed care; and effects of the parity legislation for behavioral health care. In 2001, he was awarded the National Institute of Health Care Management's Award for Excellence in Health Services Research. He has testified before the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and state legislatures. Sturm received an M.S. in economics from the University of Florida and an M.A. in statistics and Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

The effect of urban design, neighborhood characteristics, and the food environment on lifestyles, health outcomes, and health care costs

Selected Publications

R. Sturm, "Stemming the Global Obesity Epidemic: What Can We Learn From Data about Social and Economic Trends," Public Health, 122(8):1140-1143, 2008

R. Sturm, "Increases in Morbid Obesity in the USA: 2000-2005," Public Health, 121(7):492-496, 2007

R. Sturm and A. Datar, "Body Mass Index in Elementary School Children, Metropolitan Area Food Prices and Food Outlet Density," Public Health, 2005

R. Sturm, "Economics and Physical Activity: A Research Agenda," American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 28(2), 2005

R. Sturm, J. Ringel, T. Andreyeva, "Increasing Obesity Rates and Disability Trends," Health Affairs, 23(2), 2004

R. Sturm and D. A. Cohen, "Suburban Sprawl and Physical and Mental Health," Public Health, 118(7), 2004

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: ABC; Associated Press; Chicago Sun-Times; CNN; Health & Medicine Week; Los Angeles Times; New York Times; NewsRx.com; NPR; Reuters; Scripps Howard News Service; USA Today; Wall Street Journal; Washington Post

Economics

Recent Projects

Economics of nutrition and physical activity
Economic implication of changing health habits
National longitudinal survey of health care
Research center on managed care for psychiatric disorders

Selected Publications

Sturm R., "Stemming the global obesity epidemic: what can we learn from data about social and economic trends?" Public Health, 122(8):739-46, 2008

Sturm R., "Increases in morbid obesity in the USA: 2000-2005.," Public Health, 121(7):492-6, 2007

Sturm R, Datar A., "Body mass index in elementary school children, metropolitan area food prices and food outlet density.," Public Health, 119(12):1059-68, 2005

Sturm R., "The economics of physical activity: societal trends and rationales for interventions.," Am J Prev Med., 27(3):126-35, 2004

Sturm R, Gresenz CR., "Relations of Income Inequality and Family Income to Chronic Medical Conditions and Mental Health Disorders: National Survey.," BMJ, 324(7328):20-23, 2002

Roland Sturm

Media Resources

Education

Overview

Biography

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Selected Publications

Recent Media Appearances

Economics

Recent Projects

Selected Publications

Commentary

Worth Its Weight in Gold? — Apr 21, 2011

Publications

Does the Response to Alcohol Taxes Differ Across Racial/ethnic Groups? Some Evidence from 1984-2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System - 2011

Economic Analysis of Physical Activity Interventions - 2011

Preventing Obesity and Its Consequences: Highlights of RAND Health Research - 2011

Regional Price Differences and Food Consumption Frequency Among Elementary School Children - 2011

The Role of School Physical Activity Programs in Child Body Mass Trajectory - 2011

Discretionary Calorie Intake a Priority for Obesity Prevention: Results of Rapid Participatory Approaches in Low-Income US Communities - 2010

Facility Provision in Elementary Schools: Correlates with Physical Education, Recess, and Obesity - 2010

Measuring the Physical Food Environment and Its Relationship with Obesity: Evidence from California - 2010

Not Enough Fruit and Vegetables or Too Many Cookies, Candies, Salty Snacks, and Soft Drinks? - 2010

Self-reported Unmet Need for Mental Health Care After California's Parity Legislation - 2010

Soda Taxes, Soft Drink Consumption, and Children's Body Mass Index - 2010

Affordability and Obesity: Issues in the Multifunctionality of Agricultural/food Systems - 2009

Alcohol Environments and Disparities in Exposure Associated with Adolescent Drinking in California - 2009

Developing Policy Solutions for a More Active Nation: Integrating Economic and Public Health Perspectives - 2009

Hold the Salt: Lowering Sodium Intake Would Improve Health and Save Money - 2009

Potential Societal Savings from Reduced Sodium Consumption in the U.S. Adult Population - 2009

South Los Angeles Ban on Fast-Food Chains Misses the Mark - 2009

Zoning for Health? The Year-Old Ban on New Fast-Food Restaurants in South LA: The Ordinance Isn't a Promising Approach to Attacking Obesity - 2009

Body Mass Index Is Increasing Faster Among Taller Persons - 2008

Disparities in the Food Environment Surrounding US Middle and High Schools - 2008

Food Prices and Weight Gain During Elementary School: 5-Year Update - 2008

Stemming the Global Obesity Epidemic: What Can We Learn from Data About Social and Economic Trends? - 2008

Alcohol Outlets and Problem Drinking Among Adults in California - 2007

Alcohol and Environmental Justice: The Density of Liquor Stores and Bars in Urban Neighborhoods in the United States - 2007

How Neighborhoods Can Reduce the Risk of Obesity - 2007

Increases in Morbid Obesity in the USA: 2000-2005 - 2007

Obesity and Disability: The Shape of Things to Come - 2007

School Characteristics and Behavior Problems of U.S. Fifth-Graders - 2007

Childhood Overweight and Elementary School Outcomes - 2006

Park Use and Physical Activity in a Sample of Public Parks in the City of Los Angeles - 2006

Physical Activity and Changes in Health Care Costs in Late Middle Age - 2006

US-based Indices of Area-Level Deprivation: Results from HealthCare for Communities - 2006

Body Mass Index in Elementary School Children, Metropolitan Area Food Prices and Food Outlet Density - 2005

Childhood Obesity: What We Can Learn from Existing Data on Societal Trends, Pt. 2 - 2005

Childhood Obesity: What We Can Learn from Existing Data on Societal Trends, Pt. 1 - 2005

Depression and Comorbid Pain as Predictors of Disability, Employment, Insurance Status, and Health Care Costs - 2005

Economics and Physical Activity: A Research Agenda - 2005

Labor Market, Financial, Insurance and Disability Outcomes Among Near Elderly Americans with Depression and Pain - 2005

Use of Mental Health Care Among Youths in 1997 and 2002 - 2005

Weight Gain Trends Across Sociodemographic Groups in the United States - 2005

Childhood Overweight and Academic Performance: National Study of Kindergartners and First-Graders - 2004

Childhood overweight and parent- and teacher-reported behavior problems: Evidence from a Prospective Study of Kindergartners - 2004

Depression and Leaving Employment Among Older Adult Americans - 2004

Does Relative Deprivation Predict the Need for Mental Health Services? - 2004

Increasing Obesity Rates and Disability Trends: If It Continues at Its Current Rate, Rising Obesity Could Wipe Out Recent Improvements in Disability Among Older Americans - 2004

Mental Health and Employment Transitions - 2004

Moderate and Severe Obesity Have Large Differences in Health Care Costs - 2004

Nuclear Power in Eastern Europe: Learning or Forgetting Curves? - 2004

Physical Education in Elementary School and Body Mass Index: Evidence from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study - 2004

RAND Review: Vol. 28, No. 1, Spring 2004 - 2004

Suburban Sprawl and Physical and Mental Health - 2004

The Economics of Physical Activity: Societal Trends and Rationales for Interventions - 2004

The Effects of State Mental Health Parity Legislation on Perceived Quality of Insurance Coverage, Perceived Access to Care, and Use of Mental Health Specialty Care - 2004

A National Study of the Effect of Chronic Pain on the Use of Health Care By Depressed Persons - 2003

Geographic Disparities in Children's Mental Health Care - 2003

Increases in Clinically Severe Obesity in the United States, 1986-2000 - 2003

The Role of Managed Care and Financing in Medical Practices: How Does Psychiatry Differ from Other Medical Fields? - 2003

Adverse Selection and Generosity of Alcohol Treatment Benefits - 2002

Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Care for Uninsured and Insured Adults - 2002

An Early Case Study of the Effects for California's Mental Health Parity Legislation - 2002

Effect of Managed Care and Financing on Practice Constraints and Career Satisfaction in Primary Care - 2002

Effects of Cost-Containment Strategies Within Managed Care on Continuity of The Relationship Between Patients with Depression and Their Primary Care Providers - 2002

Evidence-based Health Policy Versus Evidence-Based Medicine - 2002

Relations of Income Inequality and Family Income to Chronic Medical Conditions and Mental Health Disorders: National Survey - 2002

The Effects of Obesity, Smoking, and Drinking on Medical Problems and Costs - 2002