The Effects of Farm and Food Policy on Obesity in the United States

This book uses an economic framework to examine the consequences of U.S. farm and food policies for obesity, its social costs, and the implications for government policy. Drawing on evidence from economics, public health, nutrition, and medicine, the authors evaluate past and potential future roles...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alston, Julian M. (Author), Okrent, Abigail M. (Author)
Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
Format: Electronic eBook
Language:English
Published: New York : Palgrave Macmillan US : Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.
Series:Palgrave Studies in Agricultural Economics and Food Policy
Subjects:
Online Access:Full Text via HEAL-Link
Description
Summary:This book uses an economic framework to examine the consequences of U.S. farm and food policies for obesity, its social costs, and the implications for government policy. Drawing on evidence from economics, public health, nutrition, and medicine, the authors evaluate past and potential future roles of policies such as farm subsidies, public agricultural R&D, food assistance programs, taxes on particular foods (such as sodas) or nutrients (such as fat), food labeling laws, and advertising controls. The findings are mostly negative—it is generally not economic to use farm and food policies as obesity policy—but some food policies that combine incentives and information have potential to make a worthwhile impact. This book is accessible to advanced undergraduate and graduate students across the sciences and social sciences, as well as to decision-makers in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. .
Physical Description:XXII, 393 p. 43 illus. online resource.
ISBN:9781137478313