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- Title
Impact of Different Policies on Unhealthy Dietary Behaviors in an Urban Adult Population: An Agent-Based Simulation Model.
- Authors
Donglan Zhang; Giabbanelli, Philippe J.; Arah, Onyebuchi A.; Zimmerman, Frederick J.
- Abstract
Objectives. Unhealthy eating is a complex-system problem. We used agent-based modeling to examine the effects of different policies on unhealthy eating behaviors. Methods. We developed an agent-based simulation model to represent a synthetic population of adults in Pasadena, CA, and how they make dietary decisions. Data from the 2007 Food Attitudes and Behaviors Survey and other empirical studies were used to calibrate the parameters of the model. Simulations were performed to contrast the potential effects of various policies on the evolution of dietary decisions. Results. Our model showed that a 20% increase in taxes on fast foods would lower the probability of fast-food consumption by 3 percentage points, whereas improving the visibility of positive social norms by 10%, either through community-based or mass-media campaigns, could improve the consumption of fruits and vegetables by 7 percentage points and lower fast-food consumption by 6 percentage points. Zoning policies had no significant impact. Conclusions. Interventions emphasizing healthy eating norms may be more effective than directly targeting food prices or regulating local food outlets. Agent-based modeling may be a useful tool for testing the population-level effects of various policies within complex systems.
- Subjects
CALIFORNIA; NATURAL foods; COMPUTER simulation; DECISION making; FOOD habits; FOOD service; HEALTH behavior; HEALTH promotion; PROBABILITY theory; SNACK foods; SOCIAL marketing; TAXATION; CITY dwellers; GOVERNMENT policy; SECONDARY analysis; SOCIAL attitudes; PREDICTIVE tests; CROSS-sectional method; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; ECONOMICS
- Publication
American Journal of Public Health, 2014, Vol 104, Issue 7, p1217
- ISSN
0090-0036
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2105/AJPH.2014.301934