Food Policy Research in NYC: What do we know? Where do we need to go?
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Transcript of Food Policy Research in NYC: What do we know? Where do we need to go?
Food Policy Research in NYC: What do we know?
Where do we need to go?
Brian Elbel, PhD, MPHAssistant Professor of Population Health and Health Policy
Director, Section on Health Choice, Policy, and Evaluation
Department of Population Health
Calorie Labeling
• Many see labels, some even report using them.
• But, no population-level changes of note in calories purchased.
• Clear limits to the policy. Could they work along with other initiatives in in the longer term?
Funded by RWJF Healthy Eating Research 65634; NIH/NHLBI R01HL095935
Fresh Food Financing Initiatives
NYC’s “Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH)”• 90%: Shop for groceries in supermarket• 35%: Reported noticing a new store in their neighborhood• No change: fruit and vegetables consumed, “unhealthy” snack
food consumed– At least for the community as a WHOLE
Funded by Aetna Foundation 4036366 and RWJF Healthy Eating Research 68236
Sugary Beverage Portion Cap
100
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0-80-60-40-20
0204060
Figure : Simulated Calorie Changes
All Transactions with BeveragesOnly Transactions that include SSBs Subject to Ban
The Percentage Shift to 16 Oz. Beverages with Remainder Purchasing 32 Oz.
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Funded by NIH/NIDDK R01 DK099241, NYSHealth Foundation 12-01682 and RWJF 70823
Taxes and Different Labeling
Funded by NYU CTSA UL1TR000038 from (NCATS), NIH
• 26%: Increase in purchasing a healthier item with a tax• No difference among taxation conditions
• 15%: Increase in purchasing a healthier item with labeling
• Relative effectiveness of smallish tax versus more effective label?
Impact of the Food Environment on Child BMI
• True, causal impact of food environment on BMI illusive
• Combining NYC FITNESSGRAM data with food environment data
• Child fixed effects: What happens to BMI as healthy and less healthy food stores open and close
• Census tract fixed effects: Fine-grained differences in food resources within the same census tract
• Home and school food environment, modeled together
Funded by NIH/NIDDK R01 DK097347
Legend Fast food restaurant
Fast food restaurants/tract
Thoughts: Priorities for research and/or to guide the next Mayoral administration
• We don’t yet have (the) solution(s)
• Think beyond “traditional” policy levers
• RANDOMIZE?
• Multiple solutions, same place
• Aggressive patience