By Unnamed photographer for U.S. Attorney’s Office - U.S. Attorney’s Office photo entered into evidence in trial of William J. Jefferson, exhibit number 20-45C. Via online copy at Baton Rouge "Advocate" website [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7260728
Can economic incentives alter eating habits? One study says yes. From the abstract:
In pooled analyses, a 10% decrease in price (i.e., subsidy) increased consumption of healthful foods by 12% ...whereas a 10% increase price (i.e. tax) decreased consumption of unhealthful foods by 6%...By food group, subsidies increased intake of fruits and vegetables by 14%...and other healthful foods, by 16%...without significant effects on more healthful beverages...Each 10% price increase reduced sugar-sweetened beverage intake by 7% ...fast foods, by 3%...and other unhealthful foods, by 9%...Changes in price of fruits and vegetables reduced body mass index..These prospective results, largely from interventional studies, support efficacy of subsidies to increase consumption of healthful foods; and taxation to reduce intake of unhealthful beverages and foods. Use of subsidies and combined multicomponent interventions appear most effective.
Subsidizing healthy foods increased their consumption, while increasing the price of more unhealthy foods decreased their consumption, with body effects on body mass index. This shows the way for altering public eating habits, if the power of the food industry/food lobby can be resisted by politicians who would have to pass legislation mandating these incentives. One can other economic incentives - from insurance companies for example - for maintaining a healthy bodyweight.
No comments:
Post a Comment