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Nutrition

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
Research Brief

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Among U.S. Active-Duty Service Members

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey asked active-duty service members about physical activity, weight status, routine medical care, alternative medicine, sleep, supplements and energy drinks, and texting while driving.

Jun 21, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Existing Regulatory Approaches to Reducing Exposures to Chemical- and Product-Based Risk and Their Applicability to Diet-Related Chronic Disease

Exempting dietary health from some form of social support or regulation seems increasingly difficult to justify in light of the scientific evidence of causal links to chronic illness.

May 22, 2018
Research Brief

Community Development Can Improve Health

Community improvements—a new supermarket and new housing—were associated with health and economic gains among the residents of an underserved, primarily African-American neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

May 1, 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
Journal Article

Journal Article

Evaluation of the Dissemination of SNaX, a Middle School-Based Obesity Prevention Intervention, Within a Large US School District

This evaluation found that that the Students for Nutrition and eXercise ("SNAX") was acceptable to schools, but only a handful had the capacity to maintain the program, and it did not affect eating behaviors in schools.

Apr 11, 2018
Report

How Calorie Labels on Menus Affect Consumers

In traditional restaurant settings, displaying the calorie content on menus did not affect consumer satisfaction and reduced the amount of food ordered by 38 calories. This is a decrease of 7 percent, a notable difference considering the average American consumes one-third of his or her food calories away from home.

Mar 28, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

A Natural Experiment Opportunity in Two Low-Income Urban Food Desert Communities: Research Design, Community Engagement Methods, and Baseline Results

This article describes the design and methods of a study intended to measure the impact on the food environment of a new supermarket in a low-income, predominantly Black neighborhood.

Mar 28, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Can the Introduction of a Full-Service Supermarket in a Food Desert Improve Residents' Economic Status and Health?

Locating a new supermarket in a low-income neighborhood may improve residents' economic well-being and health. Policymakers should consider broad impacts of neighborhood investment that could translate into improved health for residents of underserved neighborhoods.

Mar 28, 2018
Commentary

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
News Release

New Supermarket in Low-Income Neighborhood May Trigger Economic and Health Improvements

Opening a new supermarket in a low-income neighborhood may improve residents' economic well-being and health, even if residents don't necessarily buy healthier food from the store.

Dec 19, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Sexual Media and Childhood Well-being and Health

Incomplete brain development pushes adolescents to engage in risky behaviors and may affect the extent to which sexual media content is sought and acted on.

Dec 18, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Pathways Through Which Higher Neighborhood Crime Is Longitudinally Associated with Greater Body Mass Index

Among African-Americans in urban, low-income neighborhoods, lack of perceived safety because of high crime rates is associated with higher body mass index (BMI).

Dec 15, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Coordinated Care Intervention to Improve Risk Factor Control After Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack in the Safety Net: Secondary Stroke Prevention by Uniting Community and Chronic Care Model Teams Early to End Disparities (SUCCEED)

A multi-disciplinary intervention using a Chronic Care Model framework to prevent a secondary stroke among underserved populations will be tested in a randomized controlled trial.

Dec 12, 2017
Commentary

Fixing America's Food Deserts Alone Won't Fix Our Terrible Diets

It's clearly hard to make healthy food choices if you can't get to a store that offers them. But what matters most is what you put in your cart once you get there.

Dec 11, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Retrospective Review of Comorbid Conditions in a Multidisciplinary Pediatric Weight Management Clinic

Multidisciplinary pediatric obesity clinics can help patients make healthy lifestyle choices.

Dec 7, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Weight Resilience and Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among African-American Women in an Obesogenic Environment

Improving access to affordable and desirable fruits and vegetables may be the best way to help residents of food deserts maintain a healthy BMI.

Dec 5, 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

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RAND Topic:
Nutrition

Research conducted by

RAND Health