Determining the impact of food price and income changes on body weight

J Health Econ. 2008 Jan;27(1):45-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2007.04.001. Epub 2007 Apr 20.

Abstract

We develop a theoretical model to identify conditions under which price and income changes are most likely to change weight. Although it is intuitive that raising the price of high-calorie food will decrease consumption of such goods; it is not clear that such an outcome will actually reduce weight. Our empirical analysis demonstrates a case where a tax on food away from home, a food intake category blamed for much of the rise in obesity, could lead to an increase in body weight; a finding which emphasizes the need to employ economic modeling when developing public policy to reduce obesity.

MeSH terms

  • Body Weight*
  • Energy Intake
  • Food / economics*
  • Food Supply / economics
  • Humans
  • Income*
  • Models, Econometric*
  • Restaurants
  • Taxes*
  • United States