Archive for April, 2013

Coke Says “Not Me”

April 30, 2013 — Coke finds itself in an awkward position. The flagship, full-sugar Coke product competes in a category weighed down by an unhealthy image. Changing consumer preferences for more healthful drinks mean that Coke Classic is destined for decline. Sage corporate strategists in Atlanta understand this and the company is feverishly diversifying its products to include healthier […]

Stress, not Doughnuts, Explains Police Obesity Risk

April 29, 2013 — Simplistic — and false — notions of obesity as a lifestyle disease might lead one to think that occupational obesity risk for police officers is simply a function of what police officers eat and their physical activity. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find studies that suggest a more complex picture. Recent studies suggest that […]

Taco Bell Making Changes…Slowly

April 28, 2013 — Worried that Taco Bell’s plans to make its meals more nutritionally balanced will ruin your favorite fast food experience? You can relax, at least for a while. The big changes Taco Bell is touting are set to be rolled out in 2020. Yes, you read that correctly. According to Taco Bell’s parent company, Yum Brands, […]

Falling Healthcare Consumption as Reform Approaches

April 27, 2013 — Falling healthcare consumption statistics are showing up in many places as 2014 approaches, with major provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) coming into effect. It’s becoming clear that Americans are making fewer visits to the doctor in a trend that started with the great recession and continues even through the ongoing recovery. The latest […]

Could Facebook Assist Public Health Efforts to Track Obesity? – US News and World Report

April 27, 2013 — http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/04/26/could-facebook-assist-public-health-efforts-to-track-obesity

Obesity Rates: Are We There Yet?

April 26, 2013 — Declarations that we’ve turned the corner on childhood obesity are easy to find these days. We hope it’s true. A report from Georgia is the latest in a series of reports suggesting that childhood obesity rates are down in many communities. Likewise, recent reports that the growth of obesity rates are slowing, particularly in women, […]

Awkward Meeting: Policy, Evidence, and Public Values

April 25, 2013 — Policy, evidence, and public values commonly meet in awkward circumstances, especially when the subject is obesity and health policy. On just about any day you can find controversy in the headlines about a policy designed to address obesity. On one side, you’ll find scientists offering evidence about the effect the proposal might or might not […]

OAC, ACP, and Doctors Take on Medical Care for Obesity

April 24, 2013 — Doctors who want to provide medical care for obesity — before it leads to a litany of chronic diseases — face a medical system that is stacked against them. Payers will rarely pay for medical care relating solely to obesity. So those who want to be paid for their work more often address the complications […]

Googling Cafeterias for Employee Wellness

April 23, 2013 — Some companies are stirring up their employees by trying to tell them how much they should weigh and penalizing those who don’t meet the bar. But it’s worth a look at the very different practices of a top tier employer like Google. And what you’ll find is Google putting its energy into into a healthy […]

Salt Labeling: Confusingly Helpful

April 22, 2013 — Labeling food to guide consumers to healthier choices is a tricky business. Ask Campbell’s, which had to execute a messy u-turn in 2011. Sales slumped when they went too far in reducing salt content for some of their soups and low-sodium claims backfired. A new study, though, suggests that deftly-executed salt labeling can help guide […]