More than two-thirds of adults and one-third of children in America are obese or at risk for obesity. To reverse this epidemic, we must identify the policy and environmental changes that lead to increased physical activity and better nutrition. We also must support the advocacy that will result in widespread adoption of those policies.
Obesity/Childhood Obesity
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Research and Resources on Snack Foods and Beverages in Schools
April 19, 2012 | Book
A collection of research briefs, journal articles and online resources that provide information regarding competitive foods and beverages in school.
Economic Contextual Factors and Child Body Mass Index
April 1, 2011 | Book
This policy paper is from a series published by the National Bureau of Economic Research on obesity in the United States. The authors examined the relationship between children's weight and fast food and fruit and vegetable prices, and children's weight and availability of fast-food restaurants, full-service restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores and convenience stores.
Where Does the Wage Penalty Bite?
April 1, 2011 | Book
The authors examine relationships between body mass index (BMI) and wages.
MicheLee Puppets and the Fight Against Child Obesity
January 1, 2010 | Book
MicheLee Puppets travel throughout Florida, providing an entertaining—even rollicking—show for the state's schoolchildren. The puppets highlight ways that elementary schoolchildren can eat more nutritious food and be healthier.
The Impact of Minimum Wage Rates on Body Weight in the United States
April 1, 2011 | Book
This study concluded that declining real minimum wage rates have contributed to the increasing rate of overweight and obesity in the United States. Studies to clarify the mechanism by which minimum wages may affect obesity might help determine appropriate policy responses.
The Relationship Between Perceptions of Neighborhood Characteristics and Obesity Among Children
April 1, 2011 | Book
This policy paper is from a series published by the National Bureau of Economic Research on obesity in the United States. The authors examined whether maternal perceptions of neighborhood environment affect children’s body weight.
Obesity, Self-Esteem and Wages
April 1, 2011 | Book
Obesity is associated with serious health problems, and it can generate adverse economic outcomes.
Effects of Weight on Adolescent Educational Attainment
April 1, 2011 | Book
The authors used measures of educational achievement such as highest grade attended, highest grade completed, and drop out status among adolescents to ascertain whether weight affected educational achievements. Analyses did not detect any strong associations between weight and educational achievement among youth surveyed in the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth.
Studying the Child Obesity Epidemic with Natural Experiments
April 1, 2011 | Book
This paper is part of a series on obesity published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The authors used data from pediatric visits to estimate effects of certain changes to the environment on children’s body mass. Environmental factors examined in this study are fast-food restaurants, supermarkets, parks, trails, violent crimes and 13 types of recreational amenities.
Food Prices and the Dynamics of Body Weight
April 1, 2011 | Book
A popular policy option for addressing the growth in weight has been the imposition of a “fat tax” on selected foods that are deemed to promote obesity. This study tested the short- and long-run body weight consequences of changing food prices.