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.
Oct 11, 2019

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.
Jul 5, 2018
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.
Jun 29, 2018
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.
Apr 26, 2018
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.
Mar 19, 2018
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.
Dec 30, 2017
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.
Oct 31, 2017
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.
May 25, 2017
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.
Mar 13, 2017
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.
Dec 20, 2016
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.
Aug 19, 2016
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.
Jul 11, 2016
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.
Mar 15, 2016
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.
Feb 24, 2016
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.
Feb 22, 2016
commentary

Junk Food: Why People Can't Control Themselves and What to Do About It
Americans consumed far less junk when it wasn't so widespread. Consumption accelerated when marketers discovered they could stimulate 'impulse buys.'
Jul 21, 2015

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Quoted

The [Israel-Hamas] war has exacerbated a divide in American politics. Historically, Israel enjoyed wide bipartisan support. That's no longer the case with more progressives and younger voters questioning this core tenet of U.S. foreign policy. The Gaza war has certainly exacerbated this shift and it's going to continue to influence the politics of American support for years to come

Raphael S. Cohen

Director, Strategy and Doctrine Program, RAND Project AIR FORCE, and Director of the Pardee RAND Graduate School National Security Program

Source: rand.org

While there have sometimes been intense policy debates, American support for Israel was historically bipartisan. Judging by the reaction to the Gaza war at many of the leading college campuses—the crucible of future leaders—Western attitudes will only further harden against Israel. Israel has an American problem that it will struggle to effectively address.

Brian Michael Jenkins

Senior Adviser to the RAND President

Source: rand.org

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Obesity

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

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

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

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

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

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

Candy Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Why Nutrition Standards and Policies Should Continue

Five Myths About American Obesity

Those Holiday Pounds You Gain Don't Go Away

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

A Sweet Fix to Tackling Obesity in the UK?

Lack of Uniformity in Menu Labeling Could Confuse Consumers

The Surprising Ways That a Supermarket Changed a Food Desert

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

Junk Food: Why People Can't Control Themselves and What to Do About It

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