Obesity

commentary

Click and Exercise! Amazon, Netflix, Hulu—Are You Listening?

Most Americans spend their daily leisure time watching screens, devoting only a small fraction to physical activity. The explosion of streaming apps is likely contributing to this problem. Streaming services could consider adding a pop-up at the end of each episode that encourages viewers to get up and move.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

Why 'Guilt-Free' Lanes at the Supermarket Could Help Fight Obesity

The United Kingdom is banishing so-called “guilt lanes,” supermarket cash register aisles permeated by junk food. This is a necessary step in the nation's fight against obesity. But what's really needed is a comprehensive approach.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

Junk-Food Havens: Vending Machines Don't Belong in the Workplace

In the middle of a nationwide obesity epidemic, a handy device dripping with temptation often lurks around the workplace corner—the vending machine. Decreasing the ubiquity and availability of low-nutrient junk food could go a long way toward addressing obesity in the United States.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

Why Obesity Rates Continue to Climb—and What Can Be Done to Stop It

Too many Americans are being harmed by a food environment that lacks the necessary standards to make it easier for people to maintain a healthy weight. Policies aimed at portion control and cleaning up the food swamp could make a difference.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

Fighting Obesity: Why Chile Should Continue Placing 'Stop Signs' on Unhealthy Foods

By instituting its innovative food warning label policies, Chile has become a beacon of light to countries around the world. The new government would do well to consider why it should maintain these policies, which in the long run will benefit business and the country as a whole.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

What the World Can Learn from Chile's Obesity-Control Strategies

Nearly 30 years into the ongoing global epidemic of obesity and chronic diseases, Chile has taken the lead in identifying and implementing obesity-control strategies that could prove to be the beginning of the end of the epidemic. The country's success on this front can serve as a lesson plan other countries could follow.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

Candy Out of Sight, Out of Mind

CVS is cutting back on candy at the cash register, making junk food less visible and "healthier" snacks easier to find. Any move that nudges consumers toward healthier choices should be applauded, but CVS could take the lead as a retailer and do away with junk food displays by the cash register altogether.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

Why Nutrition Standards and Policies Should Continue

Rolling back nutrition standards means increasing risks for Americans and does not bode well for population health. Every effort should be made to maintain strong nutrition standards to protect the health of all Americans.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

Five Myths About American Obesity

Two in three Americans are overweight or obese. There are many popular theories about what's causing the obesity epidemic, but many are not supported by data. What's clear is that most U.S. adults eat too many calories.

Ruopeng An, Roland Sturm

blog

Those Holiday Pounds You Gain Don't Go Away

People are more likely to choose unhealthy foods from November to December. And the holiday pounds they gain account for 60 to 70 percent of weight gained per year.

commentary

New Nutrition Labels Will Do Little to Bring Quality to American Diet

Although good intentions led to the new nutrition labels, it is unlikely that they will improve the quality of the American diet. The label changes have not been tested in a real-world setting with the various factors that influence what people buy.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

A Sweet Fix to Tackling Obesity in the UK?

It is hard to tell whether or not the new sugar tax proposed in the UK budget will actually make a difference. There is no conclusive proof that a tax on sugar-based beverages leads to reductions in obesity levels.

Marco Hafner

commentary

Lack of Uniformity in Menu Labeling Could Confuse Consumers

A bill recently passed by the House would loosen nutritional labeling requirements, making it more complicated for consumers to make informed decisions about what to eat when dining out.

Deborah A. Cohen

essay

The Surprising Ways That a Supermarket Changed a Food Desert

The arrival of a new grocery store in a 'food desert' neighborhood delivered some obvious health benefits. But the benefits had nothing to do with whether the residents shopped there.

commentary

It's Hard to Eat Less When There Is Too Much on Your Plate

A recent review of 72 studies on portion sizes confirmed that when served more than they need, people eat more than they should. And there is clear evidence that portion sizes are dramatically larger than those served in the 1980s.

Deborah A. Cohen