Food Prices Affect Weight Management

Food Prices Affect Weight Management: Taxes on these kinds of foods or elimination of subsidies could be helpful approaches to promote health according to these data. This 20-year longitudinal study included 12,123 respondent days from 5,115 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. “The real price (inflated to 2006 US dollars) of soda and pizza decreased over time. The price of whole milk increased. A 10% increase in the price of soda or pizza was associated with a -7.12% or -11.5% change in energy from these foods, respectively. A $1 increase in soda price was also associated with lower daily energy intake (-124 kcal), lower weight (-1.05 kg), and lower HOMA-IR score (0.42); similar trends were observed for pizza. A $1 increase in the price of both soda and pizza was associated with greater changes in total energy intake (-181.49 kcal), body weight (-1.65 kg), and HOMA-IR (-0.45).” The authors concluded, “Policies aimed at altering the price of soda or away-from-home pizza may be effective mechanisms to steer US adults toward a more healthful diet and help reduce long-term weight gain or insulin levels over time.” Arch Intern Med 170(5):420-426, 8 March 2010