Adherence
Food pricing strategies, specifically taxes on unhealthy foods and subsidies for healthy foods, effectively alter consumption, with stronger effects on lower-income populations.
To improve diet at scale, use financial incentives. Subsidize healthy options (like fruits/veg) to make them cheaper, and tax unhealthy options (like sugary drinks) to make them more expensive. This works best when targeted at lower-income groups who are more price-sensitive.
a 10 % price reduction or subsidy increases consumption of healthful foods/beverages by 14 %, while a 10 % price increase or tax reduces consumption of unhealthful foods/beverages by 7 % decrease
Why this rating
Strong evidence from meta-analyses of modeling and prospective studies, including real-world tax implementation data.
Source
CVD Prevention Through Policy: a Review of Mass Media, Food/Menu Labeling, Taxation/Subsidies, Built Environment, School Procurement, Worksite Wellness, and Marketing Standards to Improve Diet
Ashkan Afshin et al. · Current Cardiology Reports · 2015
DOI 10.1007/s11886-015-0658-9
More from this paper
- School procurement policies that restrict unhealthy competitive foods and beverages are effective in reducing student intake and obesity prevalence.Good
- Focused mass media campaigns targeting specific dietary factors (fruits, vegetables, salt) effectively improve population-level dietary intake.Moderate
- Food and menu labeling has inconclusive or minimal effects on consumer behavior and sales.Moderate
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- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
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