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Dr. David Frisvold Receives New NIH R01 to Study Effects of New Calorie Postings

Dr. David Frisvold, Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the Tippie College of Business and a member of the Obesity Research and Educational Initiative (OREI), was recently awarded a new NIH $1.3 million R01 entitled “Understanding the Effect of Calorie Menu Labels on Obesity: Producer and Consumer Responses to the ACA’s Calorie Posting.” The overall aim of this project is to determine whether and why the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) menu labeling requirement impacts obesity by examining changes in consumer behavior and restaurant menus. Specifically, this project will evaluate the impact of the ACA's menu labeling requirement on (1) restaurant menu offerings and prices, (2) consumer eating habits, (3) physical activity, and (4) body mass index and obesity. The expected outcomes of this project are an understanding of the impact of greater access to information in the form of calorie posting requirements on obesity and the mechanisms through which calorie posting influences obesity. Thus, this project will inform policymakers and researchers about whether and how the calorie posting mandate in the Affordable Care Act impacts obesity rates.

Date: 
Thursday, January 28, 2016