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Obesity

Physical Exercise
commentary
Click and Exercise! Amazon, Netflix, Hulu—Are You Listening?
Deborah A. Cohen
Oct 11, 2019
The Health Care Blog
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.
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Childhood Obesity
commentary
Why 'Guilt-Free' Lanes at the Supermarket Could Help Fight Obesity
Deborah A. Cohen
Jul 5, 2018
United Press International
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.
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Diet and Eating Habits
commentary
Junk-Food Havens: Vending Machines Don't Belong in the Workplace
Deborah A. Cohen
Jun 29, 2018
Fox News Channel
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.
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Diet and Eating Habits
commentary
Why Obesity Rates Continue to Climb—and What Can Be Done to Stop It
Deborah A. Cohen
Apr 26, 2018
KevinMD.com
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.
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Nutrition Policy
commentary
Fighting Obesity: Why Chile Should Continue Placing 'Stop Signs' on Unhealthy Foods
Deborah A. Cohen
Mar 19, 2018
Inside Sources
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.
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Obesity
commentary
What the World Can Learn from Chile's Obesity-Control Strategies
Deborah A. Cohen
Dec 30, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
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.
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Health and Wellness Promotion
commentary
Candy Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Deborah A. Cohen
Oct 31, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
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.
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Nutrition Policy
commentary
Why Nutrition Standards and Policies Should Continue
Deborah A. Cohen
May 25, 2017
RealClearHealth
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.
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Obesity
commentary
Five Myths About American Obesity
Ruopeng An, Roland Sturm
Mar 13, 2017
Politico
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.
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Diet and Eating Habits
blog
Those Holiday Pounds You Gain Don't Go Away
Dec 20, 2016
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.
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Nutrition Policy
commentary
New Nutrition Labels Will Do Little to Bring Quality to American Diet
Deborah A. Cohen
Aug 19, 2016
Fox News Channel
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.
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Obesity
commentary
A Sweet Fix to Tackling Obesity in the UK?
Marco Hafner
Jul 11, 2016
The RAND Blog
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.
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Nutrition Policy
commentary
Lack of Uniformity in Menu Labeling Could Confuse Consumers
Deborah A. Cohen
Mar 15, 2016
The Hill
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.
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Neighborhood Influences on Health
essay
The Surprising Ways That a Supermarket Changed a Food Desert
Feb 24, 2016
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.
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Diet and Eating Habits
commentary
It's Hard to Eat Less When There Is Too Much on Your Plate
Deborah A. Cohen
Feb 22, 2016
KevinMD.com
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.
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Diet and Eating Habits
commentary
Junk Food: Why People Can't Control Themselves and What to Do About It
Deborah A. Cohen
Jul 21, 2015
The RAND Blog
Americans consumed far less junk when it wasn't so widespread. Consumption accelerated when marketers discovered they could stimulate 'impulse buys.'
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