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Obesity prevention at the point of purchase
Author(s) -
Cohen D. A.,
Lesser L. I.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
obesity reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.845
H-Index - 162
eISSN - 1467-789X
pISSN - 1467-7881
DOI - 10.1111/obr.12387
Subject(s) - point of sale , point (geometry) , business , marketing , obesity , portion size , work (physics) , consumption (sociology) , advertising , medicine , environmental health , computer science , mechanical engineering , chemistry , geometry , mathematics , food science , world wide web , engineering , social science , sociology
Summary The point of purchase is when people may make poor and impulsive decisions about what and how much to buy and consume. Because point of purchase strategies frequently work through non‐cognitive processes, people are often unable to recognize and resist them. Because people lack insight into how marketing practices interfere with their ability to routinely eat healthy, balanced diets, public health entities should protect consumers from potentially harmful point of purchase strategies. We describe four point of purchase policy options including standardized portion sizes; standards for meals that are sold as a bundle, e.g. ‘combo meals’; placement and marketing restrictions on highly processed low‐nutrient foods; and explicit warning labels. Adoption of such policies could contribute significantly to the prevention of obesity and diet‐related chronic diseases. We also discuss how the policies could be implemented, along with who might favour or oppose them. Many of the policies can be implemented locally, while preserving consumer choice. © 2016 World Obesity