Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Food Retailers and Obesity

  • Etiology of Obesity (T Gill, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Obesity Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We live in an ‘obesogenic environment’ where we are constantly bombarded with choices that encourage us to move less and eat more. Many factors influence our dietary choices, including the expert marketers who advise manufacturers on ways to encourage the population to buy more, especially profitable, palatable ‘ultra-processed’ foods. Supermarkets themselves have become skilled in manipulating buying behaviour, using their layout and specific product placement as well as advertising to maximise purchases of particular foods. Increasingly, supermarkets push their own ‘house’ brands. Those marketing fast foods also use persuasive tactics to attract customers, especially children who they entice with non-food items such as promotional or collectable toys. There is no mystery to the increase in obesity: our energy intake from foods and drinks has increased over the same period that energy output has decreased. Obesity has a range of relevant factors, but there is little doubt that marketing from supermarkets and fast food retailers has played a role.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

  1. Ellickson P. The evolution of the supermarket industry: from A&P to Wal-Mart. The Bradley Policy research Center Financial Research and Policy Working Paper No. FR 11-17, available http://ssrn.com/abstract=1814166, accessed December 2014.

  2. Hamlett J, Alexander A, Bailey A et al. Regulating UK supermarkets: an oral-history perspective. H&P Policy Papers, available at http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/regulating-uk-supermarkets-an-oral-history-perspective.

  3. Wansink B. Environmental factors that increase the food intake and consumption volume of unknowing consumers. Ann Rev Nutr. 2004;24:455–79.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Rothwell NJ, Stock MJ. Combined effects of cafeteria and tube-feeding on energy balance in the rat. Regulation of energy balance in two models of reversible obesity in the rat. J Comp Physiol Psychol. 1979;93(6):1024–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wansink B. Slim by design: mindless eating solutions for everyday life. New York: William-Morrow; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lopez RP. Neighborhood risk factors for obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007;15(8):2111–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Morland K, Diez Roux AV, Wing S. Supermarkets, other food stores, and obesity: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study. Am J Prev Med. 2006;30(4):333–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. The Public Health Effects of Food Desserts. Workshop Summary. National Research Council (US), National Academies Press, Washington DC. 2009, available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK208019/, accessed October 2014.

  9. Moodie R, Stuckler D, Monteiro C, et al. Profits and pandemics: prevention of harmful effects of tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed food and drink industries. Lancet. 2013;381(9867):670–9. This study sets out clearly many of the problems facing those who seek to make changes to the current food environment.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Australia’s Food and Nutrition 2012. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2012, available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=10737422837. accessed October 2014.

  11. Australian Bureau of Statistics 4364.0.55.007 Australian Health Survey Nutrition First Results- Foods and Nutrients 2011–12, 9th May, 2014.

  12. Monteiro C. World Nutrition. 2011; 2 (7), available at http://www.wphna.org/htdocs/2011_aug_wn4_cam9.htm. Accessed October 2014.

  13. Ludwig DS. Technology, dirt, and the burden of chronic disease. JAMA. 2011;305:1352–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Cameron AJ, Thornton LE, McNaughton SA, Crawford D. Variation in supermarket exposure to energy–dense snack foods by socio-economic position. Public Health Nutr. 2012;16(7):1178–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Adler NE, Stewart J. Health disparities across the lifespan: meaning, methods, and mechanisms. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010;1186:5–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Farley TA, Rice J, Bodor JN, Chen DA, et al. Measuring the food environment: shelf space of fruits, vegetables, and snack foods in stores. J Urban Health. 2009;86(5):672–82.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Rose D, Hutchison PL, Bodor JN, Swalm CM, et al. Neighbourhood food environments and Body Mass Index: The Importance of in-store contents. Am J Prev Med. 2009;37(3):214–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Hurvitz PM, Moudon AV, Rehm CD, Streichert LC, et al. Arterial roads and socioeconomic status are predictors of fast food restaurant density in King County, WA. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2009;6:46.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Larson NI, Story MT, Nelson MC. Neighbourhood environments: disparities in access to healthy foods in the US. Am J Prev Med. 2009;36(1):74–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pearce J, Blakely T, Witten K, Bartie P. Neighborhood deprivation and access to fast-food retailing: a national study. Am J Prev Med. 2007;32(5):375–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Cummins SC, McKay L, MacIntyre S. McDonald’s restaurants and neighbourhood deprivation in Scotland and England. Am J Prev Med. 2005;29(4):308–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Jones J, Terashima M, Rainham D. Fast food and deprivation in Nova Scotia. Can J Public Health. 2009;100(1):32–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. SettlePJ CAJ, Thornton LE. Socioeconomic differences in food advertising at public transit stops across Melbourne suburbs. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2014;38(5):414–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Reidpath DD, Burns C, Garrard J, Mahoney M, et al. An ecological study of the relationship between social and environmental determinants of obesity. Health Place. 2002;8(2):141–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Brindal E, Mohr P, Wilson C, Wittert G. Obesity and the effects of choice at a fast food restaurant. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2008;2:111–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Nestle M. Food politics, how the food industry influences nutrition and health. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Swinburn BA, Sacks G, Hall KD, McPherson K, Finegood DT, Moodie ML, et al. The global obesity pandemic: shaped by global drivers and local environments. Lancet. 2011;378:804–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Vandevijvere S, Swinburn BA, and for the International Network for Food and Obesity/non-communicable diseases (NCDs) Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS). Towards global benchmarking of food environments and policies to reduce obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases: design and methods for nation-wide surveys. BMJ Open. 2014;4(5):e005339.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Wingert K, Zachary DA, Fox M, Gittelsohn J, et al. Child as change agent. The potential of children to increase healthy food purchasing. Appetite. 2014;81:330–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Orciari M. Fast food companies still target kids with marketing for unhealthy products. Yale News 4 November 2013, available at http://news.yale.edu/2013/11/04/fast-food-companies-still-target-kids-marketing-unhealthy-products. Accessed October 2014.

  31. Fast Food targeted marketing 2012-2013 Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. available at http://www.fastfoodmarketing.org/media/fastFoodFACTS_TargetedMarketing.pdf. Accessed October 2014.

  32. Marlow N. The Supermarket Landscape. ForPsych Business and Consumer Psychology. March 2013 available at http://www.forpsych.eu/psychology-in-practise/66-consumer-environment/160-the-supermarket-landscape. Accessed October 2014.

  33. Aghazedah S. Layout strategies for some of a retail operations. Manag Res News. 2005;28(10):31–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Browne K. Trolley Psychology: Choice unlocks the psychological secrets of the supermarket and shows you how to avoid spending more than you mean to. Choice. Australian Consumer's Association. 2010; (4):60.

  35. Thornton LE, Cameron AJ, McNaughton SA, et al. The availability of snack food displays that may trigger impulse purchases in Melbourne supermarkets. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:194. available at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/194. accessed October 2014.

  36. Klein B, Wright JD. The economics of slotting contracts. J Law Econ. 2007;50:421–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Bita N. Are supermarket giants simply too big? The Australian June 21, 2014 available at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/are-supermarket-giants-simply-too-big/story-e6frg6z6-1226961691069). Accessed October 2014.

  38. Dalley E, Sheftalovich Z. Supermarket special. Price Wars. Choice. 12 July 2012, available at http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/food-and-health/food-and-drink/supermarkets/supermarket-private-labels-and-homebrand-products/page/price-wars.aspx. accessed October 2014.

  39. Knox M. Supermarket Monsters. The Monthly: August 2014, available at http://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2014/august/1406815200/malcolm-knox/supermarket-monsters. Accessed October 2014. Although this article is not from a peer reviewed journal, it offers researchers an insight into the marketing efforts of the modern supermarket.

  40. Food and Grocery Prescribed Industry Code of Conduct, available at www.treasury.gov.au/-consultationsandReviews/Consultations/2014/Improving-Relationships-Food-Grocery-Sector. Accessed October 2014.

  41. FMI Backgrounder. Slotting allowances in the supermarket industry. Food Marketing Institute, available at http://www.fmi.org/docs/media-backgrounder/slottingfees2002.pdf. Accessed October 2014.

  42. USA versus Europe – Differences in Industry Fundamentals. Export Express Newsletter 2014. Available at http://www.exportsolutions.com/ExportTipsDetails.aspx?id=44&title=Distributor%20Participation%20on%20Global%20Account%20Teams. Accessed October 2014.

  43. Paish M. Global report highlights challenges for Australian food and beverage industry. Aus Food News 25 Nov 2011, available at http://ausfoodnews.com.au/2011/11/25/global-report-highlights-challenges-for-australian-food-and-beverage-industry.html. Accessed October 2014.

  44. Pititto A for Grant Thornton. Hunger for Growth: Food and Beverage looks to the future. Global food and beverage study Nov 2013, available at http://www.grantthornton.com.au/files/hunger_for_growth_australia_insights.pdf. Accessed October 2014.

  45. Supermarkets and Grocery Stores in Australia: Market Research Report IBISWorld ANZSIC G4111. September 2014.

  46. OECD. Policy roundtable – monopsony and buyer power. 2008. available at: http://www.oecd.org/daf/competition/44445750.pdf. accessed October 2014.

  47. Nicholson C, Young B. The relationship between supermarkets and suppliers: What are the implications for consumers? Consumers International and Europe Economics, July 2012. available at http://www.consumersinternational.org/media/1035307/summary,%20the%20relationship%20between%20supermarkets%20and%20suppliers.pdf. Accessed October 2014.

  48. Seely A. Supermarkets:competition inquiries into the groceries market, available at www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn03653.pdf. Accessed October 2014.

  49. Schoff P, Moritz S, White E. Competition in the Australian Grocery Industry. CPI Antitrust Chronicle July 2014 (2), available at http://www.minterellison.com/files/Uploads/Documents/Publications/Articles/Pub_A_20140307_CPI_Comp_Grocery_Schoff.pdf. Accessed October 2014.

  50. Background Briefing. ABC Radio. Casualties in the supermarket war. Chen H. 2013, available at http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/2013-03-24/4582278#transcript. Accessed October 2014.

  51. KPMG, Australian Food and Grocery Council Competitiveness and Sustainability Growth June 2014. available at http://www.afgc.org.au/2014/06/financial-squeeze-getting-tougher-for-food-and-grocery-suppliers/. Accessed October 2014.

  52. Report of the ACCC inquiry into the competitiveness of retail prices for standard groceries, 2008, available at https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Grocery%20inquiry%20report%20-%20July%202008.pdf. accessed October 2014.

  53. White A, Gallegos D, Hundloe T. The impact of fresh produce specifications on the Australian food and nutrition system: a case study of the north Queensland banana industry. Public Health Nutr. 2011;14(8):1489–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Clarke W, Radnidge P, Lai E, Jensen P, et al. Digestion of waste bananas to generate energy in Australia. Waste Manag. 2008;28:527–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. AIHW Australia’s Food and Nutrition 2012, available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=10737422837, accessed October 2014.

  56. Coca-Cola 2011–2102 Sustainability Report, available at http://www.coca-colacompany.com/sustainabilityreport/me/active-healthy-living.html#section-the-global-problem-of-obesity. Accessed October 2014.

  57. Deloitte Access Economics. Reforming regulation of the Australian food and grocery sector. Commissioned by the Australian Food and Grocery Council October 2013. Available at http://www.deloitteaccesseconomics.com.au/uploads/File/DAE-AFGC%20reform%20FINAL%20281013.pdf. Accessed October 2014.

  58. Popkin B, Adair LS, Ng SW. Now and then: the global nutrition transition: the pandemic of obesity in developing countries. Nutr Rev. 2012;70(1):3–21.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

Conflict of Interest

Rosemary A. Stanton declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medical Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of New South Wales, 2866 Moss Vale Road, Barrengarry, 2577, Australia

    Rosemary A. Stanton

Authors
  1. Rosemary A. Stanton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosemary A. Stanton.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Etiology of Obesity

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Stanton, R.A. Food Retailers and Obesity. Curr Obes Rep 4, 54–59 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-014-0137-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-014-0137-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation