Overview

The effects of obesity have become practically ubiquitous in the US. This book aims to provide an alternative framework through which to explore the important and controversial obesity debate that has spilled over from the medical community. This book is not about obesity as a medical condition, nor does it offer a wide-ranging discussion on the health effects of obesity or the role of the 'right' diet. To this end, the contributors present a multidisciplinary portrait of this complex problem. They explore the rising trend in obesity of the US in terms of its significant economic and social consequences. The web of underlying causes of the 'infrastructure of obesity', they explain, lies with public policy decisions, economic factors and profit opportunities as well as the more obvious nutrition and health choices of individuals. Prevention and treatment of this now global pandemic are then tackled from the perspectives of businesses, governments, society and the individual. The taxation, marketing, cultural, ethical and institutional dimensions of obesity are also addressed. Obesity, Business and Public Policy is unique in its broad social science approach, exploring the obesity epidemic from economic, business, legal, social and public policy perspectives. As such, this truly multidisciplinary study will make fascinating reading for academics and professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds including: business, economics, public and social policy, medicine and nutrition.

Full Product Details

Author:   Zoltán J. Ács ,  Alan Lyles
Publisher:   Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Imprint:   Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
ISBN:  

9781849801430

ISBN 10:   1849801436
Pages:   288
Publication Date:   28 December 2009
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

Contents: Foreword Former Governor Michael Huckabee Preface 1. Introduction Zoltan J. Acs and Alan Lyles PART I: CULTURE, OBESITY AND INSTITUTIONS 2. The Spread of Obesity David B. Audretsch and Dawne DiOrio PART II: OBESITY AND THE INDIVIDUAL 3. The Economics of Childhood Obesity Policy John Cawley 4. Obesity, Poverty and Diversity: Theoretical and Strategic Challenges Lenneal J. Henderson 5. The Labor Market Impact of Obesity John Cawley PART III: OBESITY AND BUSINESS 6. Mixed Messages in Marketing Communications about Food and Obesity Stephen J. Gould and Fiona Sussan 7. Weight Control, Private Health Insurance and Public Policies Alan Lyles and Ann Cotten PART IV: OBESITY AND GOVERNMENT 8. The Infrastructure of Obesity Zoltan J. Acs, Ann Cotten and Kenneth R. Stanton 9. Federal Communication about Obesity in the Dietary Guidelines and Checkoff Programs Parke E. Wilde 10. Tax Solutions to the External Costs of Obesity Julie Ann Elston, Kenneth R. Stanton, David T. Levy and Zoltan J. Acs PART V: LESSONS FROM THE PAST 11. Tobacco Control as a Model for Trimming the Obesity Problem David T. Levy and Marilyn Oblak 12. Perspectives on the Economic and Cultural Effects of Obesity Litigation: Lessons from Pelman v McDonald’s José Felipé Anderson PART VI: POLICY CONCLUSIONS 13. A Policy Framework for Confronting Obesity Zoltan J. Acs, Lenneal J. Henderson, David T. Levy, Alan Lyles and Kenneth R. Stanton Index

Reviews

'This collection of essays provides a thorough overview of the complex issue of obesity... The book provides an excellent overview of the obesity in the US, and does an excellent job of suggesting potential solutions, along with the difficulties we will likely encounter when trying to implement these solutions. It is written for the lay person and is an enjoyable read.' - Inas Rashad, Eastern Economic Journal 'The book brings together an impressive group of contributors, and the table of contents covers a range of issues from a discussion of culture, obesity and institutions, to discussions of obesity and the individual, and then sections on obesity and business, and obesity and government.' - Linda Botterill, Australian Journal of Political Science 'As numerous major American cities propose and implement bans on trans fats in prepared foods, a book examining the causes, consequences, and solutions to the rising incidence of obesity could not be timelier. This work provides important insights into the economic and policy issues associated with obesity. Recognizing the complex interrelationships between medical and economic aspects of both causes and treatments, and the conflicts between personal and public policy considerations, the editors offer a richly comprehensive approach... Although this volume focuses on the causes of, and responses to, obesity in the US, its general discussion and framework provide a useful introduction to analyzing obesity internationally. Highly recommended.' - E. Magenheim, Choice 'A growing scholarly literature in economics and other social sciences addresses the growth in obesity. We shall discuss the positive and normative analysis of obesity found in that literature, but our particular focus is a recent anthology of articles, primarily economic, on obesity - Obesity, Business and Public Policy edited by Zoltan J. Acs and Alan Lyles.' - Tomas J. Philipson and Richard A. Posner, Journal of Economic Literature

'This collection of essays provides a thorough overview of the complex issue of obesity... The book provides an excellent overview of the obesity problem in the US, and does an excellent job of suggesting potential solutions, along with the difficulties we will likely encounter when trying to implement these solutions. It is written for the lay person and is an enjoyable read.' -- Inas Rashad, Eastern Economic Journal 'The book brings together an impressive group of contributors, and the table of contents covers a range of issues from a discussion of culture, obesity and institutions, to discussions of obesity and the individual, and then sections on obesity and business, and obesity and government.' -- Linda Botterill, Australian Journal of Political Science 'As numerous major American cities propose and implement bans on trans fats in prepared foods, a book examining the causes, consequences, and solutions to the rising incidence of obesity could not be timelier. This work provides important insights into the economic and policy issues associated with obesity. Recognizing the complex interrelationships between medical and economic aspects of both causes and treatments, and the conflicts between personal and public policy considerations, the editors offer a richly comprehensive approach... Although this volume focuses on the causes of, and responses to, obesity in the US, its general discussion and framework provide a useful introduction to analyzing obesity internationally. Highly recommended.' -- E. Magenheim, Choice

Author Information

Edited by Zoltán J. Ács, Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science and University Professor, School of Policy, Government and International Affairs, George Mason University, US and Alan Lyles, Henry A. Rosenberg Professor of Public, Private and Non Profit Partnerships, Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts, University of Baltimore, US

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