Tag: obesity
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Soft Drink Consumption Allegedly Linked to Global Weight Gain
A recent study has allegedly concluded that soft drink consumption “is significantly linked to overweight, obesity and diabetes worldwide, including in low- and middle-income countries.” Sanjay Basu, et al., “Relationship of Soft Drink Consumption to Global Overweight, Obesity, and Diabetes: A Cross-National Analysis of 75 Countries,” American Journal of Public Health, November 2013. Relying on…
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Researchers Study Effects of Framing Childhood Obesity Messages
Communications and health policy researchers report that while perceptions about government interventions to address childhood obesity are correlated with political ideology, certain approaches to—or framing of—the childhood obesity message can affect whether conservatives accept the seriousness of the problem and are willing to (i) endorse responsibility beyond the individual, and (ii) support policy action. Sarah…
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Scientific American Article Focuses on “Food Addiction”
A recent article detailing the history of food addiction studies has claimed that foods dense in fat and sugar can override our appetite suppressing hormones, activate our neurological reward systems and prompt us to continue eating past the point of satiety. Paul Kenny, “Is obesity an addiction?,” Scientific American, September 2013. According to author Paul Kenny,…
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Scholar Seeks to Insert Fairness into Assumption of Risk Defense
Tel Aviv University Senior Law Lecturer Avihay Dorfman explores the theoretical underpinnings of assumption of the risk as a tort defense and illustrates its nuances in the context of obesity. “Assumption of the Risk, After All,” Theoretical Inquiries in Law (forthcoming 2013). Observing that any hostility toward the doctrine stems from the perception that it has…
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Study Examines Role of Gut Bacteria in Obesity
A recent study examining the role of gut bacteria in obesity has reported that germ-free mice transplanted with human fecal microbiota either gained weight or stayed lean depending on the body profile of the human donor. Vanessa Ridaura, et al., “Gut Microbiota from Twins Discordant for Obesity Modulate Metabolism in Mice,” Science, September 2013. Using…
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PHAI Attorneys Discuss “Cheeseburger” Bills and Obesity-Related Lawsuits
Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) Staff Attorney Cara Wilking and President Richard Daynard, a self-described “strategic litigation expert with a focus on combating the epidemics caused by tobacco and obesity,” have co-authored an article titled “Beyond Cheeseburgers: The Impact of Commonsense Consumption Acts on Future Obesity-Related Lawsuits.” 68 Food & Drug Law Journal 229 (2013). Beginning…
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Study Examines BPA and Chronic Disease Risk Factors in Children
A recent study has reportedly claimed that higher levels of urinary bisphenol A (BPA) “were associated with a higher odds of obesity … and abnormal waist circumference-to-height ratio” in children. Donna Eng, et al., “Bisphenol A and Chronic Disease Risk Factors in US Children, Pediatrics, September 2013. Using data from 3,000 children ages 6 to…
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IOM Report Sets Framework for Evaluating Obesity Prevention Efforts
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has published an August 2013 report that seeks to provide guidance to federal, state and local groups “for systematic and routine planning, implementation, and evaluation of the advancement of obesity prevention efforts.” Titled Evaluating Obesity Prevention Efforts: A Plan for Measuring Progress, the latest effort complements the specific goals and…