2012-05-24T20:27:12Z Copyright (c) 2012, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation http://www.rand.org/topics/diet-and-eating-habits.html http://www.rand.org/commentary/2012/05/23/RAND.html May 23, 2012 May 23, 2012

If we want to make progress on the now-global obesity epidemic, we must challenge the status quo and make unhealthy food the new tobacco, writes Helen Wu.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201200113.html May 21, 2012 May 21, 2012

A review of menu nutrition information in U.S. sit-down chain restaurants found that 96 percent of main entrées exceeded the daily limits for calories, sodium, fat, and saturated fat recommended by the USDA.

http://www.rand.org/about/people/a/an_ruopeng.html

<em>Assistant Policy Analyst</em><br>Ph.D. candidate (M.Phil.) in policy analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School; M.P.P in public policy, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS); B.A. in political science and public administration, Peking University

http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120028.html Feb 29, 2012 Feb 29, 2012

It's widely assumed that living near fast-food restaurants and convenience stores encourages overconsumption, while supermarkets encourage healthier diets. However, an analysis found no robust link between food environment and consumption in youths, indicating a more complicated relationship than some theories suppose.

http://www.rand.org/about/people/s/salvy_sarah.html

<em>Behavioral/Soc Sci, Full</em><br>BS in psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal; PhD in clinical psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal; Post Doc in social psychology, University of Toronto

http://www.rand.org/about/people/c/cerully_jennifer_l.html

<em>Associate Behavioral and Social Scientist</em><br>Ph.D. and M.S. in social psychology, University of Pittsburgh; B.S. in computer science and decision science, Carnegie Mellon University

http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20110034.html Jan 31, 2011 Jan 31, 2011

Geographic variation in food prices across the US affects youth's consumption of fruit, vegetables and milk; price variation does not seem to affect consumption of fast food or soft drinks, perhaps because consumption is less price sensitive.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100133.html Jan 31, 2011 Jan 31, 2011

This project developed and designed Students for Nutrition and eXercise (SNaX), an intervention aimed at translating school obesity-prevention policies into practice with peer advocacy of healthy eating and school cafeteria changes.

http://www.rand.org/about/people/f/florez_karen_rocio.html

<em>Associate Behavioral &amp; Social Scientist</em><br>Ph.D. in public health, Columbia University; M.P.H. in public health, Columbia University; B.A. in anthropology, Hofstra University

http://www.rand.org/about/people/n/nicosia_nancy.html

<em>Economist</em><br>Ph.D. in economics, University of California, Berkeley

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9327/index1.html

This research brief summarizes a study suggesting that though lack of will power is blamed for failure to maintain a diet, the more likely culprit is automatic responses to cues to eat and the availability of cheap, convenient, high-calorie foods.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9375/index1.html

This fact sheet summarizes a study examining the variation of the intake of fruits and vegetables for blacks, whites, and Mexican Americans, in addition to the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic status and this intake.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9140/index1.html

With a reported rise in the number of procedures -- and complications -- researchers at the Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center examined the effectiveness and risks of weight loss surgery by analyzing nearly 150 published studies.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9139/index1.html

To assess the effectiveness and safety of prescription weight-loss medications, researchers at the Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center analyzed 78 published studies of the most popular diet drugs.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20100096.html Aug 31, 2010 Aug 31, 2010

Reducing consumption of salty snacks, candy, cookies may be more effective than exercise in combating obesity

http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20100104.html Jul 31, 2010 Jul 31, 2010

Community-based participatory research promotes community engagement in improving depression care.

http://www.rand.org/news/press/2010/07/19/index1.html Jul 18, 2010 Jul 18, 2010

Pittsburgh's Hill District neighborhood will be the focus of a RAND Corporation study that will examine how a full-service grocery store can influence the health of residents served by the store.

http://www.rand.org/news/press/2010/04/01.html Apr 1, 2010 Apr 1, 2010

Small sales taxes on soft drinks in the range currently in force in some states are insufficient to reduce consumption of soda or curb obesity among children.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20100032.html Mar 31, 2010 Mar 31, 2010

<p>Small sales taxes on soft drinks in the range currently in force in some states are insufficient to reduce consumption of soda or curb obesity among children. Such small taxes may reduce consumption in among children at greater risk for obesity, but reducing consumption for all children would require larger taxes. </p>

http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20101313.html Jan 31, 2010 Jan 31, 2010

<p>This paper explores the effects of relative food prices on body weight and body fat over time in China. The authors study a cohort of 15,000 adults from over 200 communities in China, using the longitudinal China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991-2006). The authors find that the price of energy-dense foods has consistent and negative effects on body fat, while such price effects do not always reflect in body weight. These findings suggest that changes in food consumption patterns induced by varying food prices can increase percentage body fat to risky levels even without substantial weight gain.</p>