How taxes and other city policies change what people buy, eat, and their health
Causal effect estimation of public policies on purchasing behaviors, consumption and health outcomes
This project looks at whether city actions like soda taxes change what adults with or at risk for type 2 diabetes buy and eat and how that may affect their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321678 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will create new statistical methods to track how policies such as sweetened-beverage taxes influence purchases and consumption when people shop across borders or switch to other sugary items. They will combine retail sales data, individual surveys, and health-related measures and apply these methods to the Philadelphia beverage tax and nearby areas. The work pays special attention to capturing effects in underserved groups that are often missing from standard surveys. The goal is a clearer, more accurate picture of whether these policies lower sugar intake and related health risks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults with or at risk for adult-onset (type 2) diabetes who live in or near cities that have implemented beverage taxes or who can share purchase and diet information.
Not a fit: People whose diabetes is primarily genetic, who live far from taxed jurisdictions, or who cannot provide purchase or survey data may not see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help design policies that more reliably reduce sugar consumption and lower risks for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous city soda-tax studies showed reductions in purchases in taxed areas but mixed evidence on health benefits and some cross-border shopping, so this work builds on those mixed findings to clarify real health effects.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mitra, Nandita — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Mitra, Nandita
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.