The ubiquity of food in developed nations does not necessarily imply that people will choose healthy options, nor does the scarcity of food in some developing areas imply poor eating habits. RAND research on diet and eating habits investigates economic and social factors behind such concerns as diet choices, nutrition, access to foods, obesity, and weight loss.
Blog
We know that the obesity epidemic is a serious public health concern. What's less clear, however, is how our surroundings fit into the equation.
News Release
Lowering the costs of healthy foods in supermarkets increases the amount of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods that people eat, while also appearing to reduce consumption of nutritionally less-desirable foods.
Journal Article
Lowering the costs of healthy foods in supermarkets increases the amount of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods that people eat, while also appearing to reduce consumption of nutritionally less-desirable foods.
Commentary
New York should see the judge's ruling as an opportunity to revise the law to close the loopholes, including the Big Gulp exemption, and develop regulations in line with the scientific consensus that even 16 ounces is way too much, writes Deborah Cohen.
Journal Article
Family environments present opportunities for interventions that promote physical activity. Family members share genetic risk factors associated with chronic health conditions, and physical inactivity tends to cluster within families and households.
Journal Article
There is a relationship between the percentage of outdoor food advertising and overweight/obesity.
Journal Article
This study examines the effect of a price reduction for healthy food items on household grocery shopping behavior among members of South Africa's largest health plan.
Journal Article
Physicians could more frequently address topics that may influence patient dietary supplement use, such as the risks, effectiveness, and costs of supplements.
Commentary
In an era of budget constraints, policymakers confronting the U.S. obesity crisis need strong evidence from projects like PHRESH to inform decisions about where and how to invest, writes Tamara Dubowitz.
Report
Aims to broaden understanding of the role of restaurants in the current food environment.
Content
Impulse marketing—like candy at a supermarket checkout line—influences our food choices in a way that is largely automatic and out of our conscious control, which affects our risk of diet-related chronic diseases.
Commentary
Although placement is a factor that is right in front of our noses, we should consider treating it as a hidden risk factor, like carcinogens in water, because placement influences our food choices in a way that is largely automatic and out of our conscious control, write Deborah A. Cohen and Susan H. Babey.
Commentary
Rather than obstructing freedom of choice, New York City's ban on big soda containers ban actually enhances it, write Lauren Hunter and Kristin Van Busum.
Periodical
Many single entrées at U.S. chain restaurants serve up masses of calories, fat, and sodium. This infographic breaks down just how bad a full meal can be.
Commentary
Much of the talk has focused on how New York City's ban on sugary drinks, intended to curb obesity by improving dietary choices for consumers, will restrict individuals’ options. Of course, even after the ban, consumers can still buy a second soda. But they might want to take a moment to think about the consequences before doing so, writes Chloe Bird.
Commentary
It is time we treated food with the same respect we hold for the power of alcohol. It's time to develop and implement regulations that will help us moderate our diets and stem the obesity epidemic, write Deborah Cohen and Lila Rabinovich.
Journal Article
Contextual factors associated with adolescent girls' dietary behaviors could inform future interventions to improve diet.
Journal Article
To the extent that there is an association between food environment and youth obesity, the existence of more types of food outlets in an area, including supermarkets, is associated with higher BMI.
Commentary
We will be more successful at stemming the growing tide of obesity and improving our own health if everyone accepts their share of responsibility for the obesity epidemic, write Chloe E. Bird and Tamara Dubowitz.
Content
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed ban on large sugary drinks shows that policymakers—as well as health experts—are concerned about the effects of food portions on obesity in America. Consumers' dietary behaviors are often irrational, particularly when it comes to portion size, making many such regulations viable.
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