title: Best practices in policy approaches to obesity prevention.
abstract: The rapidly rising rate of obesity has prompted a variety of policy responses at national, regional, and local levels. Yet, many have expressed concern that these policy responses have a limited evidence base, are overly paternalistic, and have the potential to increase rather than shrink obesity-related disparities. The purpose of this article is to evaluate obesity policies in terms of the adequacy of evidence for action and along two ethical dimensions: their potential effect on liberty and equity. To evaluate evidence, we engage in a systematic review of reviews and rate policies in terms of the sufficiency of evidence of effectiveness at combating obesity. We then apply a libertarian-paternalist framework to assess policies in terms of their impact on liberty and inverse-equity theory to assess impact on disparities. This article provides a framework to assist decision-makers in assessing best practices in obesity using a more multi-faceted set of dimensions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. ashley.fox@mountsinai.org
authors.forename: Ashley M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Carol R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Horowitz
mesh_terms: D005610:Freedom; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D026706:Paternalism