Cost Effectiveness of Calorie Labeling at Large Fast-Food Chains Across the U.S

Authors

Roxanne Dupuis, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: roxanne.dupuis@nyulangone.org.
Jason P. Block, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.
Jessica L. Barrett, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Michael W. Long, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.
Joshua Petimar, Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Zachary J. Ward, Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Erica L. Kenney, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Aviva A. Musicus, Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Carolyn C. Cannuscio, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
David R. Williams, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Sara N. Bleich, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Steven L. Gortmaker, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-14-2023

Journal

American journal of preventive medicine

DOI

10.1016/j.amepre.2023.08.012

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Calorie labeling of standard menu items has been implemented at large restaurant chains across the U.S. since 2018. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost effectiveness of calorie labeling at large U.S. fast-food chains. METHODS: This study evaluated the national implementation of calorie labeling at large fast-food chains from a modified societal perspective and projected its cost effectiveness over a 10-year period (2018-2027) using the Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost-Effectiveness Study microsimulation model. Using evidence from over 67 million fast-food restaurant transactions between 2015 and 2019, the impact of calorie labeling on calorie consumption and obesity incidence was projected. Benefits were estimated across all racial, ethnic, and income groups. Analyses were performed in 2022. RESULTS: Calorie labeling is estimated to be cost saving; prevent 550,000 cases of obesity in 2027 alone (95% uncertainty interval=518,000; 586,000), including 41,500 (95% uncertainty interval=33,700; 50,800) cases of childhood obesity; and save $22.60 in healthcare costs for every $1 spent by society in implementation costs. Calorie labeling is also projected to prevent cases of obesity across all racial and ethnic groups (range between 126 and 185 cases per 100,000 people) and all income groups (range between 152 and 186 cases per 100,000 people). CONCLUSIONS: Calorie labeling at large fast-food chains is estimated to be a cost-saving intervention to improve long-term population health. Calorie labeling is a low-cost intervention that is already implemented across the U.S. in large chain restaurants.

APA Citation

Dupuis, Roxanne; Block, Jason P.; Barrett, Jessica L.; Long, Michael W.; Petimar, Joshua; Ward, Zachary J.; Kenney, Erica L.; Musicus, Aviva A.; Cannuscio, Carolyn C.; Williams, David R.; Bleich, Sara N.; and Gortmaker, Steven L., "Cost Effectiveness of Calorie Labeling at Large Fast-Food Chains Across the U.S" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 3254.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/3254

Department

Prevention and Community Health