commentary
Five Myths About American Obesity
Mar 13, 2017
Roland Sturm
Senior Economist; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Santa Monica Office
Education
Ph.D. in economics, Stanford University; M.S in statistics, Stanford University; M.A. in economics, University of Florida
Media Resources
This researcher is available for interviews.
To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.
More ExpertsOverview
Roland Sturm is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, where he teaches advanced econometrics and statistics. He is the author of 170 scientific publications. Sturm has analyzed “big data” for more than 25 years, including operating records of nuclear power plants, medical records, insurance claims, credit card purchases, and supermarket scanner data. Current projects develop microsimulation tools to predict policy impacts on long-term population outcomes. Previous projects studied how urban design and neighborhood characteristics affect lifestyles and health; the effects of zoning and labeling regulations; the effects of health behaviors on health care costs; and how managed care and policy changes affect behavioral health. He has testified before the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and numerous state legislatures. Sturm received a Ph.D. in economics and an M.A. in statistics from Stanford University and an M.S. in economics from the University of Florida.
Research Focus
Pardee RAND Graduate School Courses
Recent Projects
- Microsimulation of Obesity Policies
- Discrete Choice Experiment on Menu Labeling
- Eating Better For Less: Evaluating A National Discount Program on Healthy Food Purchases in South Africa
- Behavioral Economics: Incentives for Preventive Care
- The effect of urban design, neighborhood characteristics, and the food environment on lifestyles, health outcomes, and health care costs
Selected Publications
Herman R, Chen A, Sturm R, "Improving Diet Quality in US Adults: A 30-year Health and Economic Impact Microsimulation," American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2022
Roland Sturm, Haijing Crystal Huang, Flavia Tsang, Liisa Hiatt, Rosanna Smart, Cameron Wright, Helen Wu , Examining Consumer Responses to Calorie Information on Restaurant Menus in a Discrete Choice Experiment, RAND (RR-1957), 2018
Sturm R, An R, "Obesity and economic environments," CA Cancer J Clin, 64(5), 2014
Sturm R, Hattori A, "Diet and obesity in Los Angeles County 2007-2012: Evaluating the Fast Food Ban," Soc Sci Med, 2015
Sturm R, An R, Segal D, Patel P, "A cash-back rebate program for healthy food purchases in South Africa: results from scanner data," American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 44(6), 2013
Sturm R, Powell LM, Chriqui JF, Chaloupka FJ, "Soda Taxes, Soft Drink Consumption, and Children's Body Mass Index," Health Affairs, 29(5), 2010
Wells KB, Sturm R, Sherbourne CD, Meredith LS, Caring For Depression, Harvard University Press
Honors & Awards
- Willard Manning Award in Health Policy and Economic Research, ICMPE
- Edwin E. and Mary T. Huddleson Outstanding Teacher Award, Pardee RAND Graduate School of Policy Analysis
- Award for Excellence in Health Services Research, National Institute of Health Care Management
Recent Media Appearances
Interviews: ABC; Associated Press; Chicago Sun-Times; CNN; Health & Medicine Week; KCRW-FM; KNX-AM; Los Angeles Times; NBC Nightly News; New York Times; NewsRx.com; NPR; Reuters; Scripps Howard News Service; USA Today; Wall Street Journal; Marketplace Radio; Washington Post
