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Impact of different policies on unhealthy dietary behaviors in an urban adult population: An agent-based simulation model

Author

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  • Zhang, D.
  • Giabbanelli, P.J.
  • Arah, O.A.
  • Zimmerman, F.J.

Abstract

Objectives. Unhealthy eating is a complex-system problem. We used agentbased modeling to examine the effects of different policies on unhealthy eating behaviors. Methods. We developed an agent-based simulation model to represent a synthetic population of adults in Pasadena, CA, and how they make dietary decisions. Data from the 2007 Food Attitudes and Behaviors Survey and other empirical studies were used to calibrate the parameters of the model. Simulations were performed to contrast the potential effects of various policies on the evolution of dietary decisions. Results. Our model showed that a 20% increase in taxes on fast foods would lower the probability of fast-food consumption by 3 percentage points, whereas improving the visibility of positive social norms by 10%, either through community-based or mass-media campaigns, could improve the consumption of fruits and vegetables by 7 percentage points and lower fast-food consumption by 6 percentage points. Zoning policies had no significant impact. Conclusions. Interventions emphasizing healthy eating norms may be more effective than directly targeting food prices or regulating local food outlets. Agent-basedmodelingmay be a useful tool for testing the population-level effects of various policies within complex systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, D. & Giabbanelli, P.J. & Arah, O.A. & Zimmerman, F.J., 2014. "Impact of different policies on unhealthy dietary behaviors in an urban adult population: An agent-based simulation model," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(7), pages 1217-1222.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.301934_5
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301934
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    Cited by:

    1. McGill, Elizabeth & Er, Vanessa & Penney, Tarra & Egan, Matt & White, Martin & Meier, Petra & Whitehead, Margaret & Lock, Karen & Anderson de Cuevas, Rachel & Smith, Richard & Savona, Natalie & Rutter, 2021. "Evaluation of public health interventions from a complex systems perspective: A research methods review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    2. Rahmatollah Beheshti & Jessica C Jones-Smith & Takeru Igusa, 2017. "Taking dietary habits into account: A computational method for modeling food choices that goes beyond price," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-13, May.
    3. Linna Luo & Bowen Pang & Jian Chen & Yan Li & Xiaolei Xie, 2019. "Assessing the Impact of Lifestyle Interventions on Diabetes Prevention in China: A Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-12, May.
    4. Keumseok Koh & Rebecca Reno & Ayaz Hyder, 2019. "Examining disparities in food accessibility among households in Columbus, Ohio: an agent-based model," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(2), pages 317-331, April.

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