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Assessing the Feasibility and Impact of Federal Childhood Obesity Policies

Author

Listed:
  • Victoria L. Brescoll

    (Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University)

  • Rogan Kersh

    (NYU's Wagner School of Public Service)

  • Kelly D. Brownell

    (Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University)

Abstract

Research on childhood obesity has primarily been conducted by experts in nutrition, psychology, and medicine. Only recently have public policy scholars devoted serious work to this burgeoning public health crisis. Here the authors advance that research by surveying national experts in health/nutrition and health policy on the public health impact and the political feasibility of fifty-one federal policy options for addressing childhood obesity. Policies that were viewed as politically infeasible but having a great impact on childhood obesity emphasized outright bans on certain activities. In contrast, education and information dissemination policies were viewed as having the potential to receive a favorable hearing from national policy makers but little potential public health impact. Both nutrition and policy experts believed that increasing funding for research would be beneficial and politically feasible. A central need for the field is to develop the means to make high-impact policies more politically feasible.

Suggested Citation

  • Victoria L. Brescoll & Rogan Kersh & Kelly D. Brownell, 2008. "Assessing the Feasibility and Impact of Federal Childhood Obesity Policies," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 615(1), pages 178-194, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:615:y:2008:i:1:p:178-194
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716207309189
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jayachandran N. Variyam & John Cawley, 2006. "Nutrition Labels and Obesity," NBER Working Papers 11956, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. James J. Choi & David Laibson & Brigitte C. Madrian & Andrew Metrick, 2003. "Optimal Defaults," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(2), pages 180-185, May.
    3. Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein, 2023. "Libertarian paternalism," Chapters, in: Cass R. Sunstein & Lucia A. Reisch (ed.), Research Handbook on Nudges and Society, chapter 1, pages 10-16, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Laura M. Segal & Emily A. Gadola, 2008. "Generation O: Addressing Childhood Overweight before It's Too Late," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 615(1), pages 195-213, January.
    2. Tatiana Homonoff & Lee‐Sien Kao & Javiera Selman & Christina Seybolt, 2022. "Skipping the Bag: The Intended and Unintended Consequences of Disposable Bag Regulation," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(1), pages 226-251, January.

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