Hard truths and a new strategy for addressing childhood obesity.
We debunk three likely misperceptions about childhood obesity: (1) the epidemic thereof is caused by poverty, (2) information campaigns alone would be effective at reducing childhood obesity rates, and (3) obesity-reducing interventions would necessarily save money. We then discuss policies that could be effective at reducing childhood obesity rates and propose a tax/subsidy strategy that would provide the right incentives for governments, schools, and households to make appropriate investments in obesity prevention efforts.
Program in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore. eric.finkelstein@duke-nus.edu.sg
Eric A
EA
Finkelstein
Marcel
M
Bilger
D002648:Child; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology