Inviting consumers to downsize fast-food portions significantly reduces calorie consumption

Health Affairs

Volumn 31, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 399-407

  Schwartz, Janet ^a   Riis, Jason ^b   Elbel, Brian ^c   Ariely, Dan ^d  

^a TULANE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL   (United States)

^c NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE   (United States)

^d DUKE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; CALORIC INTAKE; CATERING SERVICE; CONSUMER ATTITUDE; FAST FOOD; FEEDING BEHAVIOR; FOOD PACKAGING; HUMAN; LOW CALORY DIET; MEAL; PORTION SIZE; SELF CONTROL;

CHOICE BEHAVIOR; CONSUMER PARTICIPATION; ENERGY INTAKE; FAST FOODS; FEEDING BEHAVIOR; HEALTH POLICY; HEALTH PROMOTION; HUMANS; PILOT PROJECTS; UNITED STATES;

EID: 84858591495     PISSN: 02782715     EISSN: 15445208     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0224     Document Type: Article

References (26)

1. Gallup. Well-being index [Internet]. Washington (DC): Gallup; [cited 2011 Oct 18]. Available from: http://www.well-beingindex.com/
2. Cutler D, Glaeser E, Shapiro J. Why have Americans become more obese? J Econ Perspect. 2003;17(3):93-118.
3. Leventhal H, Singer RP, Jones S. Effects of fear and specificity of recommendation upon attitudes and behavior. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1965; 2(1):20-9.
4. Bollinger B, Leslie P, Sorensen AT. Calorie posting in chain restaurants. AEJ: Econ Pol. 2011;3(1)91-128.
5. Elbel B, Kersh R, Brescoll V, Dixon LB. Calorie labeling and food choices: a first look at the effects on low-income people in New York City. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009;28(6): 1110-21.
6. Finkelstein E, Strombotne K, Chan N, Krieger J. Mandatory menu labeling in one fast-food chain in King County, Washington. Am J Prev Med. 2011;40(2):122-7.
7. Elbel B, Gyamfi J, Kersh R. Child and adolescent fast-food choice and the influence of calorie labeling: a natural experiment. Int J Obes. 2011;35(4):493-500.
8. Wansink B. Mindless eating-why we eat more than we think. New York (NY): Bantam-Dell; 2006.
9. Wansink B, Just DR, Payne CR. Mindless eating and healthy heuristics for the irrational. Am Econ Rev. 2009;99(2):165-9.
10. Wansink B, Painter JE, North J. Bottomless bowls: why visual cues of portion size may influence intake. Obes Res. 2005;13(1):93-100.
11. Rozin P, Kabnick K, Pete E, Fischler C, Shields C. The ecology of eating: smaller portion sizes in France than in the United States help explain the French paradox. Psychol Sci. 2003;14(5):450-4.
12. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Portion distortion [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): NHLBI; [cited 2011 Oct 18]. Available from: http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/portion/
13. Nielsen S, Popkin B. Patterns and trends in food portion sizes, 1977-1998. JAMA. 2003;289(4):450-3.
14. Ariely D, Wertenbroch K. Procrastination, deadlines, and performance: self-control by precommitment. Psychol Sci. 2002;13(3):219-24.
15. Pew Research Center. Eating more; enjoying less [Internet].Washington (DC): The Center; [cited 2011 Oct 18]. Available from: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2006/04/19/eating-more-enjoying-less/
16. To access the Appendix, click on the Appendix link in the box to the right of the article online
17. Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary guidelines for Americans [Internet]. Washington (DC): HHS; 2010 [cited 2011 Oct 19]. Available from: http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2010/dietaryguide lines2010.pdf
18. Trope Y, Fishbach A. Counteractive self-control in overcoming temptation. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2000; 79(4):493-506.
19. Wertenbroch K. Consumption selfcontrol by rationing purchase quantities of virtue and vice. Marketing Sci. 1998;17(4):317-37.
20. Downs JS, Loewenstein G, Wisdom J. The psychology of food consumption: strategies for promoting healthier food choices. Am Econ Rev: Papers and Proceedings. 2009; 99(2):1-10.
21. Schank RC, Abelson RP. Scripts, plans, goals, and understanding: an inquiry into human knowledge structures. Mahwah (NJ): Lawrence Erlbaum; 1977.
22. Zhong C, DeVoe SE. You are how you eat: fast food and impatience. Psychol Sci. 2010;21(5):619-22.
23. Rolls BJ, Roe LS, Meengs JS. The effect of large portion sizes on energy intake is sustained for 11 days. Obesity. 2007;15(6):1535-43.
24. McDonald's. It's all about delicious choices. Nutrition [Internet]. Oak Brook (IL): McDonald's; [cited 2011 Oct 18]. Available from: http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/food_quality/nutrition_choices.html
25. Keohane J. Fat profits [Internet]. New York (NY): Portfolio.com; 2008 Jan 13 [cited 2011 Oct 18]. Available from: http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/01/13/CKEHardees-Profile/
26. Wilcox K, Vallen B, Block LG, Fitzsimons GJ. Vicarious goal fulfillment: how the mere presence of a healthy option leads to a very unhealthy decision. J Cons Res. 2009;36(10):380-93.