Fat economics: nutrition, health, and economic policy Mazzocchi, Mario

The obesity epidemic and the growing debate about what, if any, public health policy should be adopted is the subject of endless debates within the media and in governments around the world. Whilst much has been written on the subject, this book takes a unique approach by looking at the obesity epidemic from an economic perspective. Written in a language accessible to non-specialists, the authors provide a timely discussion of evolving nutrition policies in both the developing and developed world, discuss the factors influencing supply and demand of food supply, and review the evidence for various factors which may explain recent trends in diets, weight, and health.

The traditional economic model assumes people choose to be overweight as part of a utility maximisation process that involves choices about what to eat and drink, how much time to spend on leisure, food preparation, and exercise, and choices about appearance and health. Market and behavioural failures, however, such as time available to a person, education, costs imposed on the health system and economic productivity provide the economic rationale for government intervention. The authors explore various policy measures designed to deal with the epidemic and examine their effectiveness within a cost-benefit analysis framework. While providing a sound economic basis for analysing policy decisions, the book also aims to show the underlying limits of the economic framework in quantifying changes in public well-being.

1: The Obesity Epidemic
The "Epidemic" in Context
Why are People Eating More? The Need to Understand Behavior as well as Biology
What Does This Have to Do With Governments?
Conclusions
2: Why Obesity? An Economic Perspective
Is Obesity a Failure of the Market Economy?
Consumer Decision Making
Market Exchange: Information
Obesity in Developing Countries
Children and Families
Conclusion: The Economics of Obesity
3: Economic Evaluation Tools for Evidence-based Policy Making
Measures of the Direct and Indirect Costs to Society of Obesity
Evidence-based Interventions and their Costs
Conclusion: The Economic Burden of Obesity
4: Policy Intervention
Information Measures
Market Measures
Conclusions
6: Concluding Fat Economics
Glossary