Date of Award
12-2020
Degree Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Department
School of Professional Studies
Chief Instructor
Mary Piecewicz
Keywords
MPA, special interest groups, health, USDA, HSS, Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Abstract
This research paper explores the impact of relationships between lobbyists and both the USDA and HSS, and the impact these relationships have on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans that the agencies work together to create. The paper focuses specifically on the information the guidelines present in regard to red meat consumption, and the impacts this may have on American health, and healthcare costs associated. It was hypothesized that a relationship would be found between special interest groups and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and/or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Research found there was a relationship between special interest groups and the USDA, but not between special interest groups and HSS. It was also hypothesized that one result of this relationship would be the absence of an explicit recommendation against red meat consumption in the published Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Research found that there was no recommendation against red meat consumption in the guidelines, but the impact of USDA and lobbyist relationships was not proven as a causal factor. Finally, it was hypothesized that the lack of a recommendation against red meat consumption would negatively impact the health of the American public at significant cost to the healthcare system, which research found to be true. This research is important because it demonstrates the ways in which American health is suffering, the impacts this has on healthcare expenditure, as well as the potential role the US government has in influencing American health either positively or negatively.
Recommended Citation
McMillan, Dory, "The Impact of Special Interest Groups on the Federal Dietary Guidelines: Consequences for American Health" (2020). School of Professional Studies. 60.
https://commons.clarku.edu/sps_masters_papers/60
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