Child and adolescent fast-food choice and the influence of calorie labeling_ a natural experiment
International Journal of Obesity (2011) 35, 493–500
& 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved 0307-0565/11 www.nature.com/ijo PEDIATRIC ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Child and adolescent fast-food choice and the influence of calorie labeling: a natural experiment
B Elbel1,2, J Gyamfi1 and R Kersh2
1
New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA and 2New York University Wagner School of Public Service,
New York, NY, USA
Objective: Obesity is an enormous public health problem and children have been particularly highlighted for intervention.
Of notable concern is the fast-food consumption of children . However, we know very little about how children or their parents make fast-food choices, including how they respond to mandatory calorie labeling. We examined children’s and adolescents’ fast-food choice and the influence of calorie labels in low-income communities in New York City (NYC) and in a comparison city
(Newark, NJ).
Design: Natural experiment: Survey and receipt data were collected from low-income areas in NYC, and Newark, NJ (as a comparison city), before and after mandatory labeling began in NYC. Study restaurants included four of the largest chains located in NYC and Newark: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Subjects: A total of 349 children and adolescents aged 1–17 years who visited the restaurants with their parents (69%) or alone
(31%) before or after labeling was introduced. In total, 90% were from racial or ethnic minority groups.
Results: We found no statistically significant differences in calories purchased before and after labeling; many adolescents reported noticing calorie labels after their introduction (57% in NYC) and a few considered the information when ordering
(9%). Approximately 35% of adolescents ate fast food six or more times per week and 72% of adolescents reported that taste was the most important factor in their meal selection. Adolescents in our sample reported
& 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved 0307-0565/11 www.nature.com/ijo PEDIATRIC ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Child and adolescent fast-food choice and the influence of calorie labeling: a natural experiment
B Elbel1,2, J Gyamfi1 and R Kersh2
1
New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA and 2New York University Wagner School of Public Service,
New York, NY, USA
Objective: Obesity is an enormous public health problem and children have been particularly highlighted for intervention.
Of notable concern is the fast-food consumption of children . However, we know very little about how children or their parents make fast-food choices, including how they respond to mandatory calorie labeling. We examined children’s and adolescents’ fast-food choice and the influence of calorie labels in low-income communities in New York City (NYC) and in a comparison city
(Newark, NJ).
Design: Natural experiment: Survey and receipt data were collected from low-income areas in NYC, and Newark, NJ (as a comparison city), before and after mandatory labeling began in NYC. Study restaurants included four of the largest chains located in NYC and Newark: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Subjects: A total of 349 children and adolescents aged 1–17 years who visited the restaurants with their parents (69%) or alone
(31%) before or after labeling was introduced. In total, 90% were from racial or ethnic minority groups.
Results: We found no statistically significant differences in calories purchased before and after labeling; many adolescents reported noticing calorie labels after their introduction (57% in NYC) and a few considered the information when ordering
(9%). Approximately 35% of adolescents ate fast food six or more times per week and 72% of adolescents reported that taste was the most important factor in their meal selection. Adolescents in our sample reported
References: 18 Bernard HR. Research Methods in Anthropology. Altamira Press: Lanham, MD, 2005. 25 PPACA. 2010. Available at: http://www.foodlabelcompliance.com /Sites/5/Downloads/HR-3962-Div-C-Title-V-Subtitle-C-Sec-2572Restaurant-Nutrition-Labeling-pp-1527-1536.pdf (Accessed 1 June 2010). Psychology of Food Choice. 1st edn. CABI: Cambridge, MA, 2006. MA: Working Paper 15648; Also available at http://www.nber.org/ papers/w15648, 2010.