Summary and Synthesis

Abstract

Many farm and food policies that have been proposed to reduce obesity will not be effective, economic, or politically acceptable. Farm subsidies and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have not contributed to obesity, and although public agricultural R&D has contributed to obesity, it would be inefficient to use agricultural R&D policy to curb obesity. Taxing calories, sugar, or fat might be an economically efficient way of reducing obesity; however, food taxes are regressive and might not be politically acceptable. Policies that induce the food industry to redesign foods may be more effective at reducing obesity than policies that rely entirely on inducing response by consumers. Policies that combine the push of market incentives with the pull of public education and nudging interventions may be the best of all.