--- title: "Obesity prevention at the point of purchase. | Sutter Health" description: "Public health entities should protect consumers from potentially harmful point of purchase strategies, with policy options described." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-prevention-at-point-of-purchase-1055312473" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Obesity prevention at the point of purchase. # Obesity prevention at the point of purchase. Cohen DA & Lesser LI. _Obes Rev. doi: 10.1111/obr.12387. \[Epub ahead of print\]_ 2016-02-22 ## Abstract 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. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26910361) ## Research topics - [Food and Nutrition](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Food+and+Nutrition%5C%22%22) - [Health Policy](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Policy%5C%22%22) - [Obesity](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Obesity%5C%22%22) - [Prevention and Health Maintenance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Prevention+and+Health+Maintenance%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Mobile applications for weight management: theory-based content analysis.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/theory-based-content-analysis-of-apps-for-wt-mgmt-1055312668) Azar KM, Lesser LI, Laing BY, Stephens J, Aurora MS, Burke LE, Palaniappan LP. Am J Prev Med. 45(5):583-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.07.005. 2013 Nov 01 - Publication ### [An assessment of food offerings and marketing strategies in the food-service venues at California children's hospitals](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/food-offerings-and-marketing-in-ca-hospitals-1055312567) Lesser LI, Hunnes DE, Reyes P, Arab L, Ryan GW, Brook RH, Cohen DA. Acad Pediatr. 12(1):62-7. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2011.09.004. Epub 2011 Nov 30. 2011 Nov 30 - Publication ### [Alternatives to monetary incentives for employee weight loss.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/non-monetary-incentives-for-employee-wt-loss-1055312646) Lesser LI, Puhl RM. Am J Prev Med. 46(4):429-31. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.11.017. 2014 Apr 01 - Publication ### [Diabetes prevention and weight loss with a fully automated behavioral intervention by email, web, and mobile phone: a randomized controlled trial among persons with prediabetes.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/diabetes-prev-wt-loss-automated-beh-intervention-1055312953) Block G, Azar KM, Romanelli RJ, Block TJ, Hopkins D, Carpenter HA, Dolginsky MS, Hudes ML, Palaniappan LP, Block CH. J Med Internet Res. 17(10):e240. doi: 10.2196/jmir.4897. 2015 Oct 23 - Publication ### [Early weight loss and treatment response: data from a lifestyle change program in clinical practice.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/early-wt-loss-and-tx-response-in-lifestyle-change-program-1055312721) Romanelli RJ, Sudat S, Huang Q, Pressman AR, Azar K. Am J Prev Med. pii: S0749-3797(19)30421-0. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.09.014. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2019 Dec 20 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-prevention-at-point-of-purchase-1055312473#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Obesity prevention at the point of purchase."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-prevention-at-point-of-purchase-1055312473#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Obesity prevention at the point of purchase.","headline":"Obesity prevention at the point of purchase.","abstract":"The point of purchase is when people may make poor and impulsive decisions about what and how much to buy and consume. 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