The Effects of Farm and Food Policy on Obesity in the United States

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxii

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2. Introduction

   • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

   Pages 1-12

3. Obesity in America

   • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

   Pages 13-53

4. Consequences of Obesity

   • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

   Pages 55-73

5. Causes of Obesity: Individual Physiology and Consumption Choices

   • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

   Pages 75-103

6. Causes of Obesity: External Influences

   • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

   Pages 105-134

7. Role for Government: In Principle

   • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

   Pages 135-157

8. US Farm Subsidies and Obesity

   • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

   Pages 159-201

9. Agricultural R&D, Technology, and Obesity

   • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

   Pages 203-235

10. Fat Taxes and Thin Subsidies as Obesity Policy

    • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

    Pages 237-283

11. Other Food Policies as Obesity Policy

    • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

    Pages 285-318

12. Summary and Synthesis

    • Julian M. Alston, Abigail M. Okrent

    Pages 319-331

13. Back Matter

    Pages 333-393

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This book uses an economic framework to examine the consequences of U.S. farm and food policies for obesity, its social costs, and the implications for government policy. Drawing on evidence from economics, public health, nutrition, and medicine, the authors evaluate past and potential future roles of policies such as farm subsidies, public agricultural R&D, food assistance programs, taxes on particular foods (such as sodas) or nutrients (such as fat), food labeling laws, and advertising controls. The findings are mostly negative—it is generally not economic to use farm and food policies as obesity policy—but some food policies that combine incentives and information have potential to make a worthwhile impact. This book is accessible to advanced undergraduate and graduate students across the sciences and social sciences, as well as to decision-makers in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. 



Winner of the Quality of Research Discovery Award from the Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society. 

• united states
• agriculture policy
• obesity epidemic
• chronic disease
• health care cost
• dietary composition
• processed food
• farm subsidies
• multimarket simulation model
• research and development
• fat
• fatness
• fruit and vegetable subsidies
• behavioral nudge
• SNAP
• tax
• taxes

• Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, Davis, USA

  Julian M. Alston

• Food Economics Division, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Washington, USA

  Abigail M. Okrent

Julian M. Alston is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis, USA, where he studies and teaches about government policy affecting agriculture and food, including the economics of agricultural innovation, food and nutrition policy, and the global challenges of poverty, malnutrition, and obesity.

Abigail M. Okrent is Research Economist at the United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, where she researches the role of food policies and economic determinants of demand in food choices and diet quality.

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