1st empirical Study

Title: Exploring Social Workers' Use of the Socioecological Model as an Intervention and Research Framework for Treating Overweight or Obese Clients

Journal: Academic Journal

Summary: The purpose of this study was to identify the empirical contribution made by the social work profession in the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity. The constructs of the socioecological model of health, which suggest that there are multiple levels of influence on individual behaviors, were used as a conceptual framework to synthesize studies authored by social work researchers investigating overweight and obesity risk factors. Findings indicate that the majority of research conducted by social workers address overweight and obesity treatment and consequences at the individual level, and there is little on how social workers plan to address this issue from community-level or policy-related perspectives.

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2nd empirical Study

Title:Food Prices and Obesity: Evidence and Policy Implications for Taxes and Subsidies

Journal:AcademicJournal

Summary:Pricing policies have been posited as potential policy instruments to address the increasing prevalence of obesity.This article examines whether altering the cost of unhealthy, energy-dense foods, compared with healthy, less-dense foods through the use of fiscal pricing (tax or subsidy) policy instruments would, in fact, change food consumption patterns and overall diet enough to significantly reduce individuals' weight outcomes. The studies reviewed showed that when statistically significant associations were found between food and restaurant prices (taxes) andweight outcomes, the effects were generally small in magnitude, although in some cases they were larger for low-socioeconomic status (SES) populations and for those at risk for overweight or obesity.

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