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.

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More Research and Resources on Pricing Strategies

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A New Light Rail Line with Stops in Low-Income Neighborhoods

August 4, 2010 | Program Result Report

ISAIAH, a faith-based community organization of 90 congregations, mobilized community activists to promote the links between transportation and access to healthy foods and to bring light-rail stops to low-income neighborhoods in the Twin Cities.

Buffalo Residents Work to Increase Access to Healthy Food, Exercise

September 7, 2011 | Story

Winning Strategies in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity.

Community Food Environments May be Contributing to Obesity

October 1, 2010 | Program Result Report

This project developed the Nutritional Environment Measures Surveys (NEMS), pilot tested the measures in four Atlanta neighborhoods and developed a training program on using the measures.

Evaluation of Communities Creating Healthy Environments

September 18, 2009 | Evaluation

A participatory evaluation of Communities Creating Healthy Environments (C-CHE) is being conducted to evaluate grassroots activities that has been demonstrated to be optimally useful for grassroots advocacy in particular.

Faith & Food

August 4, 2011 | Program Result Report

The Center for Closing the Health Gap in Greater Cincinnati, in partnership with three Avondale neighborhood churches, mobilized a faith-based coalition to advance policies to improve the availability of healthy, affordable foods.

Measuring Food Environments

April 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article examines the measurement and study of food environments in historical context. Since food environments are believed to be linked to obesity and chronic disease, a more robust understanding of past food environment research may prove relevant for current research efforts.

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

June 1, 2007 | Program Result Report

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.

Re/Storing Nashville

August 25, 2011 | Program Result Report

Re/Storing Nashville sought to address lack of access to healthy foods and childhood obesity in three Nashville neighborhoods by increasing residents' access to full-service grocery stores.

Re/Storing Nashville

May 9, 2011 | Video/Story

In Nashville, a coalition of faith leaders seeks to improve health and prevent obesity by ensuring access to healthy foods in three underserved neighborhoods without quality grocery stores.