A sedentary lifestyle lacking physical activity, and consumption of calorie-dense foods and sugary drinks, have long been associated with obesity. But studies indicate that the inflation-adjusted cost of food, which has been falling, is also contributing to the recent epidemic of obesity. This issue brief highlights the results of a study published in Economics and Human Biology which estimates the effects of food prices on body fat percentage (body composition). The study found that an increase in the price of calorie-dense food from fast-food restaurants (through higher taxes or other ways), may help in reducing obesity rates among youths. Similarly, lowering the cost of fruits or vegetables through price subsidies may help in reducing obesity rates.