3 Interventions Projected to Prevent a Million Cases of Childhood Obesity

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A  recent study from the Harvard Prevention Research Center and conducted by The Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost Effectiveness Study (CHOICES) team shows the relevance of policy in combating obesity-related health costs. The study looked at interventions at a national policy level to help prevent obesity that would more than pay for themselves by reducing healthcare costs related to obesity. Projections on these interventions could respectively prevent 576,000, 129,100, and 345,000 cases of childhood obesity, in 2025. The study highlights the importance of prioritizing primary preventions for policy makers aiming to reduce childhood obesity. The study also shows the importance of maintaining policies like the Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and reveals future policies that may help reduce obesity healthcare costs.

The three future interventions reported that could help prevent and reduce obesity healthcare costs are as follows:

• An excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages
• Elimination of the tax subsidy for advertising unhealthy food to children

• Nutrition standards for food and drinks sold in schools outside of school meals

Some of the findings of the study show that policies like a soda tax may prevent 576 thousand cases of childhood obesity and save $14 billion dollars. Also, eliminating tax breaks on junk food ads could help lower childhood obesity cases and save $260 million dollars.  Calorie labeling was reported as saving over $4 billion dollars while helping lessen over 40 thousand cases of childhood obesity. The projected net savings to society in obesity-related health care costs for each dollar spent would be $30.78, $32.53, and $4.56, respectively.

Latinos would also be affected by these projections, as they are a growing population with higher risks for obesity and chronic related diseases. Recent studies show that Latinos are also more marketed to when it comes to unhealthy advertising. Ensuring healthy choices for Latinos through prevention measures aimed at combating obesity from childhood into adulthood may help Latinos build a lasting culture of health.

To learn more about this study click here and follow choicesproject.org.