Calorie labeling, fast food purchasing and restaurant visits.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:Obesity is a pressing public health problem without proven population-wide solutions. Researchers sought to determine whether a city-mandated policy requiring calorie labeling at fast food restaurants was associated with consumer awareness of labels, calories purchased and fast food restaurant visits. DESIGN AND METHODS:Difference-in-differences design, with data collected from consumers outside fast food restaurants and via a random digit dial telephone survey, before (December 2009) and after (June 2010) labeling in Philadelphia (which implemented mandatory labeling) and Baltimore (matched comparison city). Measures included: self-reported use of calorie information, calories purchased determined via fast food receipts, and self-reported weekly fast-food visits. RESULTS:The consumer sample was predominantly Black (71%), and high school educated (62%). Postlabeling, 38% of Philadelphia consumers noticed the calorie labels for a 33% point (P?

SUBMITTER: Elbel B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3947482 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature