Behavioral Economic Factors Related to Pediatric Obesity

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2016 Jun;63(3):425-46. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2016.02.001.

Abstract

Behavioral economics (BE) suggests that food and activity choices are governed by costs, available alternatives, and reinforcement. This article reviews basic, translational, and intervention research using a BE framework with overweight or obese children up to age 18. We address BE concepts and methods, and discuss developmental issues, the continuum of BE intervention approaches, findings of studies focused on increasing the cost of unwanted behaviors (ie, energy-dense food intake and sedentary behavior) and decreasing the cost of desired behaviors (ie, healthy food intake and PA), and our team's recent basic behavioral studies using BE approaches with minority adolescents.

Keywords: Behavioral economics; Demand; Energy intake; Food reinforcement; Incentives; Obesity; Pediatric; Physical activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child Welfare / economics*
  • Diet / economics*
  • Exercise Therapy / economics
  • Female
  • Food Preferences*
  • Health Education
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Patient Education as Topic / economics
  • Pediatric Obesity / economics*
  • Pediatric Obesity / prevention & control*
  • United States