Jebaraj Asirvatham

Do peers affect childhood obesity outcomes? Peer-effect analysis in public schools

This study investigates whether obese peers are a contributing factor in childhood body-weight outcomes. Using an instrumental variables method on exogenously assigned peers (i.e., new peers), we find that the weight of peers within the same grade and school significantly impacts body mass index (BMI) z-score of an individual student. The size of the peer effect, however, is negligible. We find no evidence of interaction between newly assigned peer groups prior to assignment. Furthermore, the obese peers variable is significant only for those peers with whom a student interacts.

Informational campaign effects of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) of 1990 on diet

Abstract This study examines consumer response to a mass-media educational campaign undertaken as part of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) of 1990, employing media content analysis. Time and spatial variation in the nutrition-label information dissemination in the newspaper media were modeled in a difference-in-difference framework. The goal, however, is not to assess newspaper as a source, but to understand the impact of how nutrition information is portrayed. We find limited impact of the media informational campaign. Articles that portrayed Nutrition Facts Labels in a positive way decreased sugars intake from labeled foods. Interestingly, articles that portrayed Nutrition Facts Labels negatively had more impact on unlabeled foods. The findings give insights into communication of nutrition information to the public.

Consumer heterogeneity in sugar consumption with special reference to fat and cholesterol intake

Abstract Consumers make dietary choices based on information they have. This study examines consumer choice of food products considering the healthfulness of multiple nutrients. We focus on high levels of sugars because higher levels of intake are associated with adverse health and nutritional outcomes. We find an important association of sugar consumption with the healthfulness of a diet based on saturated fat intake and cholesterol intake. Consumers making healthier choices in one nutrient are not making healthier choices on other nutrients. Our results suggest that individuals who were making better dietary choices based on saturated fats were consuming more sugars. This could indicate challenges with the existing standard nutrition label as an information tool towards making healthful choices on multiple nutrients. Graphical Abstract