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/content/rand/blog/jcr:content/par/bloglist .topic.obesity
The RAND Blog

Obesity

  • Media Literacy

    blog

    Truth Decay, School Lunch Nutrition, Regulating Space: RAND Weekly Recap

    May 13, 2022

    This weekly recap focuses on tackling Truth Decay, how tech experts view the military's use of artificial intelligence, a new approach to regulating outer space, and more.

    Read More »
  • Hand holding remote pointing at a TV, photo by Milan Markovic/Getty Images
    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.

    Read More »
  • Shoppers browse aisles in a supermarket in London, Britain, April 11, 2017
    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.

    Read More »
  • Hand pushing vending machine button
    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.

    Read More »
  • Large and small portions of pasta and sauce
    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.

    Read More »
  • Packages of chips and snacks
    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.

    Read More »
  • A food label in Chile indicates that a product has an excessive quantity of salt, sugar, calories, and fat
    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.

    Read More »
  • Halloween display of candy
    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.

    Read More »
  • Primary school kids eat lunch in school cafeteria, close up
    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.

    Read More »
  • People serving themselves at a restaurant buffet
    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.

    Read More »
  • Plate full of colorful Christmas cookies
    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.

    Read More »
  • A women compares food labels in a grocery store while her child fidgets in the cart
    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.

    Read More »
  • Cans of soda surrounded by sugar cubes
    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.

    Read More »
  • Man in a restaurant looking at a menu
    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.

    Read More »
  • Neighborhood dignitaries gathered in 2013 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the Shop 'n Save supermarket
    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.

    Read More »
  • Pasta with chicken, mushrooms, and alfredo sauce
    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.

    Read More »

Quoted

  • Better data might sound boring, but it is critical for helping DoD understand the root causes of civilian harm and implement the right solutions in the next operation or conflict.

    Gabrielle Tarini

    Policy Analyst

    Source: RAND Review

  • The Department of Defense has exactly zero permanent staff who wake up every morning with the sole priority of preparing the military to reduce civilian harm in combat. Protecting civilians is important to everyone in the department, but it's the top priority for no one.

    michael mcnerney

    Michael J. McNerney

    Senior International/Defense Researcher

    Source: RAND Review

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