Is the development of obesogenic food environments a self-reinforcing process? Evidence from soft drink consumption.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding how the development of obesogenic food environments and the consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages influence each other can help policymakers to identify effective ways to curb the current obesity epidemic. This paper was designed to investigate whether, and to what extent, the consumption of soft drinks and the prevalence of obesity are linked through feedback effects.

Methods

An ecological study design and a simultaneous equation model were used to investigate the existence of a vicious cycle between the consumption of soft drinks and the prevalence of obesity. The analysis was based on a longitudinal dataset covering per capita sales of soft drinks, the age-standardised prevalence rate of obesity and several demographic and socio-econo

SUBMITTER: Ferretti F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8371432 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature