Of nannies and nudges: The current state of U.S. obesity policymaking

R. Kersh

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

In the sprawling American political debates over obesity, which date back a decade and a half, 'nanny state' has been a rhetorical cudgel used to oppose those seeking even modest state action to address rising obesity rates. This essay explores obesity policy through the prism of state involvement, focusing on four possible types of response to what virtually all those involved-physicians and nutritional scientists, public-health advocacy groups, even food industry executives-agree is a serious threat to individual and collective health.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1083-1091
Number of pages9
JournalPublic Health
Volume129
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2015

Keywords

  • Nanny state
  • Obesity
  • Public health law

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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