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Heerman WJ, Kenney E, Block JP, Fiechtner L, McMahon E, Kruse L, Sharifi M, Edmondson EK, Virudachalam S. A Narrative Review of Public Health Interventions for Childhood Obesity. Curr Obes Rep 2024; 13:87-97. [PMID: 38172483 DOI: 10.1007/s13679-023-00550-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Public health interventions that intervene on macrolevel systems hold the promise of reducing childhood obesity at the population level through prevention. The purpose of this review is to highlight some of the recent and best scientific evidence related to public health interventions for the prevention of childhood obesity. We provide a narrative review of scientific evidence for six categories of public health interventions and their impact on childhood obesity: federal nutrition assistance programs, programs implemented in early care and education centers, interventions to support healthy nutrition and physical activity in schools, community-based programs and policies, labeling policies and marketing to children, and taxes on sugar sweetened beverages (SSB). RECENT FINDINGS Federal nutrition assistance programs have the strongest evidence to support reduction in childhood obesity and serve populations with the highest prevalence of childhood obesity. Other interventions including SSB taxes, community-wide interventions, and interventions at schools and early care and education centers also show significant improvements in child weight status. Overall public health interventions have strong evidence to support widespread implementation in service of reducing childhood obesity rates at the population level. To effectively address the recalcitrant childhood obesity epidemic, multi-pronged solutions are needed. The current evidence for public health obesity interventions is consistent with the paradigm that recognizes the importance of macrolevel systems influences on childhood obesity: interventions that are most effective intervene at macrolevels.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Heerman
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA.
| | - Erica Kenney
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Jason P Block
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Lauren Fiechtner
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Mass General for Children, The Greater Boston Food Bank, Boston, USA
| | - Ellen McMahon
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
| | - Lauren Kruse
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
| | - Mona Sharifi
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Emma K Edmondson
- Department of Pediatrics and Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Division of General Pediatrics, PolicyLab, and Clinical Futures at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Senbagam Virudachalam
- Department of Pediatrics and Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Division of General Pediatrics, PolicyLab, and Clinical Futures at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA
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Lee MM, Barrett JL, Kenney EL, Gouck J, Whetstone LM, McCulloch SM, Cradock AL, Long MW, Ward ZJ, Rohrer B, Williams DR, Gortmaker SL. A Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Excise Tax in California: Projected Benefits for Population Obesity and Health Equity. Am J Prev Med 2024; 66:94-103. [PMID: 37553037 PMCID: PMC10840962 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amid the successes of local sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes, interest in state-wide policies has grown. This study evaluated the cost effectiveness of a hypothetical 2-cent-per-ounce excise tax in California and its implications for population health and health equity. METHODS Using the Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost-Effectiveness Study microsimulation model, tax impacts on health, health equity, and cost effectiveness over 10 years in California were projected, both overall and stratified by race/ethnicity and income. Expanding on previous models, differences in the effect of intake of SSBs on weight by BMI category were incorporated. Costing was performed in 2020, and analyses were conducted in 2021-2022. RESULTS The tax is projected to save $4.55 billion in healthcare costs, prevent 266,000 obesity cases in 2032, and gain 114,000 quality-adjusted life years. Cost-effectiveness metrics, including cost/quality-adjusted life year gained, were cost saving. Spending on SSBs was projected to decrease by $33 per adult and $26 per child overall in the first year. Reductions in obesity prevalence for Black and Hispanic Californians were 1.8 times larger than for White Californians, and reductions for adults with lowest incomes (<130% Federal Poverty Level) were 1.4 times the reduction among those with highest incomes (>350% Federal Poverty Level). The tax is projected to save $112 in obesity-related healthcare costs per $1 invested. CONCLUSIONS A state-wide SSB tax in California would be cost saving, lead to reductions in obesity and improvement in SSB-related health equity, and lead to overall improvements in population health. The policy would generate more than $1.6 billion in state tax revenue annually that can also be used to improve health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M Lee
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Jessica L Barrett
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Erica L Kenney
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jessie Gouck
- California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California
| | | | - Stephanie M McCulloch
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Angie L Cradock
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael W Long
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Zachary J Ward
- Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Benjamin Rohrer
- Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David R Williams
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Steven L Gortmaker
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Smith NR, Hassmiller Lich K, Ng SW, Hall MG, Trogdon JG, Frerichs L. Implementation costs of sugary drink policies in the United States. J Public Health Policy 2023; 44:566-587. [PMID: 37714964 PMCID: PMC10841536 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-023-00435-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
To support implementation of important public health policies, policymakers need information about implementation costs over time and across stakeholder groups. We assessed implementation costs of two federal sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) policies of current policy interest and with evidence to support their effects: excise taxes and health warning labels. Our analysis encompassed the entire policy life cycle using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment framework. We identified implementation actions using key informant interviews and developed quantitative estimates of implementation costs using published literature and government documents. Results show that implementation costs vary over time and among stakeholders. Explicitly integrating implementation science theory and using mixed methods improved the comprehensiveness of our results. Although this work is specific to federal SSB policies, the process can inform how we understand the costs of many public health policies, providing crucial information for public health policy making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Riva Smith
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Kristen Hassmiller Lich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Shu Wen Ng
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Marissa G Hall
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Justin G Trogdon
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Leah Frerichs
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Kasman M, Hammond RA, Reader L, Purcell R, Guyer S, Ganiban JM, Mitchell DC, Dabelea DM, Bellatorre A, Bekelman TA, Cohen CC, Perng W, Grummon AH, Wu AJ, Oken E, Kleinman K. Childhood Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption: an Agent-Based Model of Context-Specific Reduction Efforts. Am J Prev Med 2023; 65:1003-1014. [PMID: 37451323 PMCID: PMC10787028 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite widespread recognition among public health experts that childhood sugar-sweetened beverage consumption should be reduced, doing so has proven to be a challenge. An agent-based model of early childhood sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was applied to data from three high-quality, longitudinal cohort studies to gain insight into potentially effective intervention strategies across contexts. METHODS From 2021 to 2023, a single agent-based model design was applied to data sets derived from three separate cohorts of children followed from infancy to childhood, with very different populations and environments (participants recruited in 1999-2002; 2003-2010; and 2009-2014). After assessing its ability to reproduce observed consumption patterns across cohorts, it was used to simulate potential impacts of multiple intervention strategies across contexts. RESULTS Interventions reducing home availability of sugar-sweetened beverages consistently had the largest potential effects. Impact differed between cohort settings: a complete decrease in availability resulted in an estimated 87% decrease in overall early childhood consumption for one of the cohorts, compared with 61% and 54% in the others. Reducing availability in center-based child care resulted in substantially greater reduction in one cohort relative to the other two. CONCLUSIONS There is untapped potential for strategies targeting children's sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in the home, but in some instances, other approaches might also yield meaningful effects. Tailoring approach to setting may be important, and agent-based models can be informative for doing so. This agent-based model has broad generalizability and potential to serve as a tool for designing effective, context-specific strategies to reduce childhood sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Kasman
- Center on Social Dynamics and Policy, Brookings Institution, Washington, District of Columbia.
| | - Ross A Hammond
- Center on Social Dynamics and Policy, Brookings Institution, Washington, District of Columbia; Center for Public Health Systems Science, Brown School at Washington University, St Louis, Missouri; The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico
| | - Lydia Reader
- Center for Public Health Systems Science, Brown School at Washington University, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Rob Purcell
- Center on Social Dynamics and Policy, Brookings Institution, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Sally Guyer
- Leve Lab, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
| | - Jody M Ganiban
- Department of Psychology, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Diane C Mitchell
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Dana M Dabelea
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Anna Bellatorre
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Traci A Bekelman
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Catherine C Cohen
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Wei Perng
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Anna H Grummon
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Allison J Wu
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ken Kleinman
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts
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