The American diet, sodium content and the obesity crisis

Posted by Andrea Tangari

Mar 12

By Andrea Tangari, assistant professor, Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, Wayne State University School of Business 

Nearly one-third of the calories in the standard American diet come from foods that add calories with little nutritional benefit--soft drinks, sweets and desserts, alcoholic beverages, and salty snacks (Block 2004). Therefore, it is not surprising that the prevalence of childhood and adult obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases has increased dramatically in the last 30 years. The unhealthiness of the American diet is the result of a complex mix of social, marketing, environmental, product, and individual (e.g., affective preferences) factors (Seiders and Petty 2004; Wansink 2010). Consequently, food consumption-related issues have been investigated from the perspective of many different disciplines. Within the field of marketing, much of this research has focused on the highly visible and well-publicized "obesity crisis." Given the strong relationship between the overconsumption of food and obesity, it is not surprising that calories have been the focus of many of these studies. However, America's recent preoccupation with calories has a potential downside—other negative nutrients (e.g., sodium, sugar, cholesterol) that are associated with the development of several serious health conditions which may not always be receiving the level of attention they deserve.

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Topic Categories: Food Labeling, Food Packaging, Sodium Level and Food, Nutritional Values

Business and Sustainability: Integrating Social Values

Posted by Andrea Tangari

May 23

According to Emma Boyd, "business schools are responding to a surge in demand for education that equips students to become social entrepreneurs."  In this video, David A. Thomas, Dean of the McDonough School of Business, discusses his views on regulation, public policy, environmental issues and its impact on MBA students.  Dean Thomas indicates that the focus in this area is coming from enlightened business leaders.  MBA students learn how to work with regulators and integrate creating social value into business organizations. 

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Topic Categories: Social Values

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