Statistics and Data Science Seminar: "Impacts of Sugar-sweetened Beverage (SSB) Warning Labels and Menu Labeling Regulations on Energy Intake, Weight Status, and Healthcare Cost"

Abstract: Accurate, readily accessible, and easy-to-understand nutrition labeling is a promising policy strategy to address poor diet quality and prevent obesity. This study projected the impacts of nationwide implementation of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) warning labels and restaurant menu labeling regulations. A stochastic microsimulation model was built to estimate the impacts of SSB warning labels and menu labeling regulations on daily energy intake, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and healthcare expenditures among US adults. The model used individual-level data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, and other validated sources. SSB warning labels and restaurant menu labeling regulations were estimated to reduce daily energy intake by 19.13 (95% CI=18.83, 19.43) and 33.09 (95% CI=32.39, 33.80) kcal, body weight by 0.92 (95% CI=0.90, 0.93) and 1.57 (95% CI=1.54, 1.60) kg, BMI by 0.32 (95% CI=0.31, 0.33) and 0.55 (95% CI=0.54, 0.56) kg/m2, and per-capita healthcare expenditures by $26.97 (95% CI=26.56, 27.38) and $45.47 (95% CI=44.54, 46.40) over ten years, respectively. The reduced per-capita healthcare expenditures translated into an annual total medical cost saving of $0.69 billion for SSB warning labels and $1.16 billion for menu labeling regulations. No discernable policy effect on all-cause mortality was identified. The policy effects could be heterogeneous across population subgroups, with larger effects in men, non-Hispanic Black adults, and younger adults. In sum, SSB warning labels and restaurant menu labeling regulations could be effective policy leverage to prevent weight gains and reduce medical expenses attributable to adiposity.

Host: Nan Lin