Optimal Defaults in the Prevention of Childhood Obesity

Loeb, Katharine L.; Radnitz, Cynthia L.; Schwartz, Mark F.; Keller, Kathleen L.; Marcus, Sheldon; Pierson, RF; Shannon, Meghan E.; Laurentis, Davide De

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2012.03.216

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…While offering students healthy options for school lunch is not a new approach, utilizing an optimal default paradigm to frame this choice is novel; an optimized default lunch menu in combination with a financial or time cost for accessing the less healthy choice has not been studied or implemented. In a proof-of-concept study of this paradigm tested using a school district’s existing lunch menu pre-selection system, parents of first graders overwhelming chose the default option that was presented (either standard or optimal), rather than “opt out” which involved calling to request additional menu choices and then actively making selections from that secondary menu [81]. …”

Section: School-based Change Opportunitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, although the concept of optimal defaults is attractive as an obesity prevention strategy, there have been only a few preliminary efforts to conduct proof of concept research [114]. Similarly, for newer initiatives such as Denmark’s “fat” tax it is too early to assess whether there has been a significant effect on BMI.…”

Section: Challenges In Implementing Optimal Defaultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optimal Defaults in the Prevention of Pediatric Obesity: From Platform to Practice

et al. 2013

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The term “optimal defaults” refers to imparting pre-selected choices which are designed to produce a desired behavior change. The concept is attractive to policymakers because it steers people toward desirable behaviors while preserving free choice through the ability to opt out. It has been found to be a powerful behavioral determinant in areas such as pension plan enrollment, organ donation, and green energy utilization. We discuss how optimal defaults can be applied to pediatric obesity prevention in several domains including public policy, institutional, private sector, and home environment. Although there are obstacles to overcome in implementing optimal defaults, it is a promising component to incorporate in a multi-level strategy for preventing pediatric obesity.

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Section: School-based Change Opportunitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Challenges In Implementing Optimal Defaultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal Defaults in the Prevention of Pediatric Obesity: From Platform to Practice

et al. 2013

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“…[36][37][38] We have previously demonstrated the robust effects of applying optimal defaults to improving food choices in parentechild dyads in a community-based setting. 39 Dyads were randomized to receive either nutritionally optimized or less-healthy menus, with an option to actively request the alternative meal listed at the bottom of each menu. Furthermore, some parents were primed with an educational video presentation before the meal to learn authoritative parenting practices.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regardless of whether parents were exposed to the priming or a control presentation, nearly all remained with their default menu items. 39 Despite these positive outcomes applying defaults to short-term food selection, it is not known whether these strategies will be effective at changing children's eating behaviors in the home.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%