Obesity Metaphors: How Beliefs About the Causes of Obesity Affect Support for Public Policy

Published: March 2009

ID #: 65055

Journal: Milbank Q

Authors: Barry CL, Brescoll VL, Brownell KD, Schlesinger M

See more related research

Share

Using the Yale Rudd Center Public Opinion on Obesity Survey, this study examines how individuals’ demographic/health characteristics, political attitudes and beliefs about the causes of obesity affect their support for obesity-reduction policies. Included in the study were seven obesity metaphors; how much respondents’ agreed with or used these metaphors was strongly predictive of whether they supported public policy to reduce obesity rates. In light of these results, the authors suggest that metaphorical reasoning could be a potent strategy in reframing issues to shore up support for obesity-reduction policies.

Read the Article

Age Group: Adults and Families

Focus Area: Healthy Communities

Resource Type: Journal Article

Keyword: Message Framing

Race/Ethnicity: Multi-racial/ethnic

State: National

Related Research

November 2024

Understanding Family Financial and Emotional Well-being During the Pandemic

This study focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic-related experiences of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic families with young children (birth to age 5) and low incomes. Families with low incomes were overrepresented among the unemployed populations in most U.S. metropolitan areas, and a higher percentage of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic workers with low incomes were displaced for More

November 2024

How Emergency Rental Assistance Might Protect Households With Children From Food Insufficiency

The COVID-19 pandemic took a severe toll on the U.S. economy as the public health crisis triggered steep job losses, business and school closures, supply backlogs, and rising inflation and rent. Households with low incomes were already rent-burdened before the pandemic and the pandemic’s economic fallout further exacerbated existing conditions. Higher rent and income loss More

November 2023

Understanding the social safety net’s impact on food security to inform policy on how best to support children in low-income families

By providing resources to low-income families with children, the safety net has the potential to reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition. Understanding how much, how, and for whom the safety net impacts food security is a critical input into active policy discussions about the best way to support children in low-income families. The project will More