Behavioral Economic Factors Related to Pediatric Obesity

Abstract

Summary The field of behavioral economics suggests that food and activity choices are governed by costs, available alternatives, and reinforcement. Here, we review basic and translational research using a behavioral economic (BE) framework with overweight or obese children up to age 18. We address BE concepts and methods, discuss developmental issues, the continuum of BE intervention approaches, findings of studies focused on increasing the cost of unwanted behaviors (i.e., energy-dense food intake and sedentary behavior) and decreasing the cost of desired behaviors (i.e., healthy food intake and PA), and our team's recent basic behavioral studies using BE approaches with minority adolescents.

Adding a reward increases the reinforcing value of fruit

“…food taxing), to decrease the variety of unhealthy snack options and to decrease the portion size (4,22,48,49) . To increase the consumption of healthy snacks methods other than rewards include subsidies, increasing variety of healthy snack options and making healthy snacks the default option in restaurants and cafeterias (4,22,48,49) . In addition, it also known that individual characteristics influence the difference in RV of healthy foods and unhealthy foods (3,10,21,22) , the effect of rewarding strategies (15) and in general the RV of food (3)(4)(5)8,20) .…”

“…Epstein et al , Vervoort et al and Jacques-Tiura & Greenwald also suggested that strategies to increase the RV of healthy foods should be combined with strategies to decrease the RV of unhealthy foods. This would increase the chances that people would alter their food choice and consumption habits ( 4 , 22 , 48 ) . Known methods to decrease the consumption of unhealthy snacks are to increase the costs (e.g.…”

“…Known methods to decrease the consumption of unhealthy snacks are to increase the costs (e.g. food taxing), to decrease the variety of unhealthy snack options and to decrease the portion size ( 4 , 22 , 48 , 49 ) . To increase the consumption of healthy snacks methods other than rewards include subsidies, increasing variety of healthy snack options and making healthy snacks the default option in restaurants and cafeterias ( 4 , 22 , 48 , 49 ) .…”

A pilot intervention to reduce postpartum weight retention at primary health care in Brazil

“…Se ha descrito que el exceso de peso y la adiposidad que caracteriza a niños y adolescentes con obesidad, se debe en parte a la presencia combinada de factores genéticos y ambientales, que aunado a la ingestión de energía que excede el gasto y los requerimientos para el crecimiento durante un periodo prolongado de tiempo, hace perentorio profundizar dicha problemática desde diversos enfoques (1,6). En adición a lo anterior, cambios en los patrones dietarios (ingesta de comidas con alto contenido energético, ricos en grasa saturadas y azúcares refinados), como alimentos ultra-procesados y bebidas azucaradas, contribuyen también, al aumento en la prevalencia del exceso de peso en etapas tempranas de la vida (7,8).…”

Prevalencia y factores asociados al consumo de bebidas azucaradas en escolares de 9 a 17 años de Bogotá, Colombia: Estudio FUPRECOL

“…En adición a lo anterior, cambios en los patrones dietarios (ingesta de comidas con alto contenido energético, ricos en grasa saturadas y azúcares refinados), como alimentos ultra-procesados y bebidas azucaradas, contribuyen también, al aumento en la prevalencia del exceso de peso en etapas tempranas de la vida (7,8).…”