About this ebook
The text examines dietary choices and obesity through a multidisciplinary lens of biological, psychological, and social factors, and draws from the disciplines of behavioral economics, nutrition, public health, and health promotion. Based on the premise that humans are hardwired to make judgment errors and need a ìnudgeî to make decisions in their best interests, the book argues that increasing consumer well-being requires changing an individualís personal environment. It describes the power of irrational forces that compete with sensible judgment in regard to food choices, and provides strategies for improving decisions and health habits. Highly accessible, the text will be of interest to students, professors, and practitioners in nutrition-related health programs, as well as to public health policy makers.
Key Features:- Assesses the social determinants that affect nutrition choices, including food availability, nutrition education, income, culture, and other key factors
- Demonstrates how flawed decisions and self-control difficulties can affect eating behavior
- Provides a valuable framework for improving public health through understanding and changing the way individuals make food decisions
- Explains the link between obesity rates and economics of food choice (fast food, food marketing, and social factors)
- Provides strategies and tools to help people improve their decision-making and health habits
About the author
Shahram Heshmat, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Public Health & Economics at the University of Illinois at Springfield and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medical Humanities at Southern Illinois University. His research is aimed at understanding the role of emotions in consumer behavior and well-being; applications of the principles of behavioral economics to appetitive behavior, changing health behavior, and designing prevention policies.
