PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
We examine the relationship between BMI and food purchase behavior using a unique dataset that links individual-level food purchases to health data. We find that individuals with higher BMI are significantly more sensitive to price changes in vice categories but do not show similar sensitivity in comparable nonvice categories. We rely on past literature that defines and identifies vice categories as those that are tempting and purchased impulsively. We explore the effectiveness of a 10% price increase on vice food categories, a hypothetical policy similar in spirit to a fat tax or sugar tax. We predict that such a tax would substantially reduce consumption of these foods, and would be particularly effective in reducing consumption by individuals with higher BMI.
摘要：
我们使用一个独特的数据集，将个人水平的食物购买与健康数据联系起来，研究了BMI与食物购买行为之间的关系。我们发现，BMI较高的个体对副类别的价格变化明显更敏感，但在可比的副类别中没有表现出相似的敏感性。我们依靠过去的文献来定义和识别副类别，即那些诱人和冲动购买的类别。我们探讨了副食品类价格上涨10%的效果，一种假想的政策，在精神上类似于脂肪税或糖税。我们预测，这样的税收将大大减少这些食品的消费，并且在减少BMI较高的人的消费方面特别有效。
