@article{Lopez:149971,
      recid = {149971},
      author = {Lopez, Rigoberto and Fantuzzi, Kristen},
      title = {Carbonated Soft Drink Choices and Obesity},
      address = {2010-01},
      number = {1586-2016-134226},
      series = {Research Report},
      pages = {19},
      year = {2010},
      abstract = {Although obesity is already the leading public health  crisis in the U.S., with an estimated social cost of  approximately $120 billion a year and growing (Rowley,  2004), obesity incidence continues to increase at an  alarming rate (Kuhn, 2002). The main culprits are the  increase in the consumption of high-calorie foods and  beverages and a decrease in exercise (Kuhn, 2002; Allhouse,  Frazao, and Tupening, 2002). Paralleling the increase in  obesity is the increase in consumption of carbonated soft  drinks (Center for Science in the Public Interest, 2005;  DiMeglio and Mattes, 2000). Carbonated soft drinks (CSDs)  are a very large part of the American diet. These wellliked  drinks account for approximately 30% of all beverages  (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) consumed in the U.S. (U.S.  Department of Agriculture, 2008). In 2000, Americans spent  $61 billion on CSDs (National Soft Drink Association, 2003)  and CSDs are among the best-selling products in American  grocery stores (Center for Science in the Public Interest,  2005). Also in 2000, more than 15 billion gallons were sold  in the United States, which equals every American consuming  at least one 12-ounce can per day or an average of 53  gallons per year (Squires, 2001). This article examines  consumer CSD choices and their implications for obesity  policy. Specifically, it assesses the importance of product  and consumer heterogeneity on consumer choices using a  random coefficients logit model (Berry, Levinsohn, and  Pakes, 1995; hereafter BLP) and a national dataset that  includes product and consumer characteristics. The  estimated choice parameters are then linked to consumer  body mass indexes (BMI) using a second-stage regression,  and the effectiveness of tax policies assessed through  counterfactual experiments.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/149971},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.149971},
}