A new paper from CHOICES, “Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Stakeholder Evaluation of 2 Obesity Prevention Policies in Maine, US” was released today in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Obesity prevention is a priority item for many policymakers at the state level. This study modeled two obesity prevention strategies in the state of Maine – a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) excise tax and a healthy beverage policy removing SSBs as SNAP-eligible products – and found evidence of potential health improvement and projected cost-savings. Study authors noted mixed levels of support for each policy by Maine stakeholders, with less support for the SNAP SSB restriction policy. Opposition to the SNAP restriction policy was based on concern that SNAP recipients were being unfairly targeted and stigmatized. This study used strategic science thinking to inform obesity prevention policy in Maine by strengthening the capacity of existing stakeholder groups and local applied researchers to integrate advanced cost-effectiveness modeling into their already well-developed policy input process.
To learn more, read a summary and the abstract of this paper.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Stakeholder Evaluation of 2 Obesity Prevention Policies in Maine, US.
Long MW, Polacsek M, Bruno P, Giles CM, Ward ZJ, Cradock AL, Gortmaker SL. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2019 Aug [Epub ahead of print], pii: S1499-4046(19)30922-4.