Dr. Christina Roberto recommends RFK Jr. push for a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks at the national level. "This is a category of food that just brings zero benefit, it's making us sick...I think it's a very reasonable place to start." statnews.com/2025/05/21/rfk…

"The overall effect of the [sweetened beverage] tax in Philly was a 35% reduction in sales of these taxed drinks....I've been working in this area for about 20 years. And I have never seen a behavioral effect that large," Christina Roberto tells PBS. pbs.org/newshour/show/…

ICYMI: The second keynote of Penn Center for Health Incentives+Behavioral Econ’s Spring Research Seminar Series, the event featuring Harvard Professor Raj Chetty and co-hosted by Katy Milkman & Atheendar Venkataramani is now available on our YouTube channel! Watch it here: bit.ly/4kgDjnE

The Nudges in Health Care Symposium will be September 11–12 in Philly. Submit a research abstract by 6/2 to share as a poster or oral presentation, or sign up to join the Penn Med Nudge Unit event for fantastic keynotes, panels, and networking opportunities. nudgeunit.my.canva.site/symposium-2025…

A Texas bill on the brink of becoming law would require major food manufacturers to label products with warnings about ingredients “not recommended for human consumption” under the standards of other countries. Christina Roberto weighs in. fortune.com/2025/06/04/tex…

Jeremy Yip and Maurice Schweitzer (a CHIBE affiliate) studied the effect of question phrasing on deception and present some research backed strategies on how you can get people to tell the truth. hbr.org/2025/06/how-to…

Check out our latest newsletter with stories on: - a new Texas bill that would require products like Doritos to carry a ‘not recommended for human consumption’ warning - cash transfer programs - an analysis of what motivates people to move conta.cc/4jNi1gO

In this study, a feedback intervention increased opioid guideline adherence from 57% to 72% without compromising patients’ ability to manage pain. JAMA Surgery Anish Agarwal M. Kit Delgado, MD, MS jamanetwork.com/journals/jamas…

CHIBE Associate Director Harsha Thirumurthy ran the 98th Comrades Marathon in South Africa—the oldest and largest ultramarathon in the world. He covered the 56-mile course in 6 hours 54 minutes (7:21 per mile), finishing 247th overall out of 21,000 runners and earning a silver medal.

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that tailored feedback to surgeons dramatically reduces excessive opioid prescriptions for common surgeries. beckersasc.com/anesthesia/a-n…

“I continue to be really excited by the fact that states that have not typically wanted to pushback on the food industry or do much to regulate it are now really seeing the value in that,” said Christina Roberto. statnews.com/2025/06/11/mah…

Behavioral incentives, especially gamification, are a cost-effective way to get patients at risk of cardiovascular disease to walk more Kevin Volpp @ACFanaroff Neel Chokshi, MD MBA @tklaiman Penn Center for Health Incentives+Behavioral Econ Penn Medicine #AHAJournals ahajrnls.org/45sk7iR

CHIBE researchers Christina Roberto and Alyssa Moran are cited in a TIME essay by Arianna Huffington advocating that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps not allow the purchase of sugary drinks or soda. time.com/7297603/snap-s…

This research by Hamsa Bastani + colleagues looks at the impact of generative AI on student learning in math education. The findings highlight the need for thoughtful integration of AI in educational settings to ensure that human learning is preserved. pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pn…

CHIBE faculty: We are inviting proposals for clinical trials that translate ideas from behavioral economics into practice in real-world settings, specifically testing interventions that reach middle-aged/elderly folks. Learn more about our Roybal funding! chibe.upenn.edu/opportunities/…

New NEJM Catalyst: Physician incentives + coaching + feedback ⏫referrals to some lower-cost services (e.g. imaging) by 19%, associated w/ large savings (~19% radiology, 23% #ortho). "Kitchen-sink" but simple nudges can 🔽costs, maintain quality catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…

CHIBE Director Kevin Volpp spoke with The Regulatory Review about nudging populations toward better health. Check out the interview here ⤵️ theregreview.org/2025/07/27/spo…

The Joint Research Practices group has a great summer newsletter full of resources for Penn research teams to conduct research that is more accessible and beneficial to all people. Check it out here ⤵️PAIR Center mailchi.mp/6aaaa832d88f/9…

RFK Jr. has discussed plans to require medical schools to include nutrition education in their curricula or else lose federal funding. Christina Roberto weighs in on the value of mandatory nutrition education in STAT. statnews.com/2025/07/24/rfk…