Pricing Strategies

RWJF Priority: Use pricing strategies—both incentives and disincentives—to promote the purchase of healthier foods

Prices can significantly affect family food choices and are emerging as an important strategy in the movement to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic. For example, when healthy foods like fruits and vegetables are more affordable, children are less likely to gain excess weight. And leading health authorities, including the Institute of Medicine, recommend new policies to reduce overconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, which are one of the top sources of calories in the American diet.

The resources below, from RWJF grantees and partners, explore the possible health and economic impacts of using pricing strategies to promote consumption of healthy foods and beverages and discourage consumption of unhealthy products.

Childhood Obesity Policy Priorities

Featured

A Penny-Per-Ounce Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Could Have Big Impact

Such a tax could prevent unnecessary, potentially life-threatening conditions—and help avoid billions of dollars in medical costs over a decade—according to a recent study.

Read the study

From the Food Trust

Harnessing the Power of Supermarkets to Help Reverse Childhood Obesity

A report from The Food Trust examines in-store promotions and pricing strategies that may encourage people to buy healthier foods and beverages.

Read the report

From Bridging the Gap

Taxes on Soda and Snack Foods

Bridging the Gap (BTG) examines how changes in price affect consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. BTG also has the latest research about state-level taxes on snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Learn more

More Research and Resources on Pricing Strategies

You are now viewing 41 - 50 of 69 results

Sort results by:

Refine Your Results

By Topic

Neighborhood Environments

January 1, 2009 | Journal Article

The availability of fresh produce and other healthy food options is better in higher-income and white neighborhoods. Complex relationships exist between dietary patterns, demographics and health. These relationships must be explored for the purpose of developing responsive health policy.

Perceptions of the Food Marketing Environment Among African American Teen Girls and Adults

February 1, 2012 | Journal Article

African-American adolescents, particularly girls, are disproportionately affected by obesity. The food marketing environment has been shown to be an influencing environmental factor in youth obesity, yet little is understood about how African Americ ...

Philadelphia Project Works with Corner Stores to Improve Students' Snacking Choices

February 1, 2007 | Program Result

Staff at The Food Trust conducted a Corner Store Campaign to change the school and community environments to support healthy eating among children and adolescents.

Physical Activity and Food Environments

March 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article provides an update on the body of research on physical activity and food environments. The authors present results from recent studies and reviews and discuss current promising innovations and policies.

Physical, Consumer, and Social Aspects of Measuring the Food Environment Among Diverse Low-Income Populations

April 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article examines the food environment in low-income settings ranging from urban to very remote. It identifies challenges of measuring food environments across these settings and lays out solutions to assess food environments in a robust and practical manner.

Pittsburgh-Area Supermarket a Showplace for Healthier Food Options

November 22, 2011 | Story

Winning Strategies in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity.

Policy Solutions to the 'Grocery Gap'

March 1, 2010 | Journal Article

In this article, the authors present the Food Trust's five-step framework for increasing access to fresh, healthy food in various locales.

Prevention Institute Conference Develops Plan for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity in Low-Income Communities

June 1, 2007 | Program Result

Prevention Institute convened academics, community advocates, policy-makers and others to identify and assess strategies to improve access to healthy foods and safe places for physical activity in low-income neighborhoods.

Principles for Framing a Healthy Food System

July 1, 2009 | Journal Article

A healthy food system is one in which everyone has daily access to a diet that allows for a full life, that does not deplete natural resources and allows for a sustainable livelihood by those involved with all aspects of food production. The author suggests seven principles that could be used in moving the United States toward a markedly improved food system.

Promoting Model Federal Policies to Improve Local Food Environments

August 1, 2011 | Program Result

PolicyLink, in partnership with the Food Trust and the Reinvestment Fund, developed and promoted model federal policies to improve local food environments and increase access to healthy, affordable foods.