Are Agricultural Policies Making Us Fat? Likely Links between Agricultural Policies and Human Nutrition and Obesity, and Their Policy Implications*
Abstract
Rates of obesity among adults and children in the U.S. are soaring, with potentially huge private and social costs. Increasing attention is being paid to agricultural policies as both the culprits through their perceived roles in reducing the relative prices of energy-dense foods, and as the potential saviors through their perceived ability to do the opposite. However, the effects of agricultural policies on human nutrition and obesity are not well understood. This paper considers (1) trends in agricultural commodity prices, and the contributions of commodity policies and agricultural RD and (3) the implications of price-induced changes in food characteristics for human nutrition outcomes. Preliminary results suggest that agricultural RD hence, policies aiming to reduce obesity through changes in relative food prices may prove ineffective or inefficient.(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
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In general, analyses focusing on recent US policy have concluded that over the past 2 decades, agricultural subsidies alone have not distorted the relative costs of fruits and vegetables and other foods relative to animal products, sugars, and edible oils.
“In general, analyses focusing on recent US policy have concluded that over the past 2 decades, agricultural subsidies alone have not distorted the relative costs of fruits and vegetables and other foods relative to animal products, sugars, and edible oils.184–187”
From Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2012) · cites this paper as [187]
A major effect of current US agricultural subsidies is income transfer to farmers.
“Rather, a major effect of these agricultural subsidies is income transfer to farmers.”
From Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2012) · cites this paper as [187]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Alston, J. M., Sumner, D. A., & Vosti, S. A.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Venue
- Review of Agricultural Economics
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2006-09
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 313-322
- ISSN
- 1058-7195 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9353
- OpenAlex
- W2154524124
- Cited by
- 62
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 12.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Review of Agricultural Economics (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics
- University of California, Davis
- Economic Research Service
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economics of Agriculture and Food Markets
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
- Keywords
- agricultural policy, obesity, human nutrition, agricultural commodity prices, food prices, energy-dense foods, agricultural research and development, food properties, nutrition policy
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