Energy‐dense fast food products cost less: an observational study of the energy density and energy cost of Australian fast foods
Abstract Objective: To examine the association between energy cost and energy density of fast food products. Methods: Twenty Sydney outlets of the five largest fast food chains were surveyed four times. Price and kilojoule data were collected for all limited‐time‐only menu items (n=54) and a sample...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12430 |
| _version_ | 1797709343386238976 |
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| author | Lyndal Wellard Michelle Havill Clare Hughes Wendy L. Watson Kathy Chapman |
| author_facet | Lyndal Wellard Michelle Havill Clare Hughes Wendy L. Watson Kathy Chapman |
| author_sort | Lyndal Wellard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective: To examine the association between energy cost and energy density of fast food products. Methods: Twenty Sydney outlets of the five largest fast food chains were surveyed four times. Price and kilojoule data were collected for all limited‐time‐only menu items (n=54) and a sample of standard items (n=67). Energy cost ($/kilojoule) and energy density (kilojoules/gram) of menu items were calculated. Results: There was a significant inverse relationship between menu item energy density and energy cost (p<0.001). Salads had the highest energy cost, while value items, meals that included a dessert and family meals had the lowest. Conclusions: Fast food chains could provide a wider range of affordable, lower‐energy foods, use proportional pricing of larger serve sizes, or change defaults in meals to healthier options. More research is required to determine the most effective strategy to reduce the negative impact of fast food on the population's diet. Implications: Current pricing in the fast food environment may encourage unhealthier purchases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:35:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d3ef16dc10a426f9080fce2d9db0b93 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:35:05Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d3ef16dc10a426f9080fce2d9db0b932023-09-03T01:21:36ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052015-12-0139654454510.1111/1753-6405.12430Energy‐dense fast food products cost less: an observational study of the energy density and energy cost of Australian fast foodsLyndal Wellard0Michelle Havill1Clare Hughes2Wendy L. Watson3Kathy Chapman4Cancer Council NSW New South WalesCancer Council NSW New South WalesCancer Council NSW New South WalesCancer Council NSW New South WalesCancer Council NSW New South WalesAbstract Objective: To examine the association between energy cost and energy density of fast food products. Methods: Twenty Sydney outlets of the five largest fast food chains were surveyed four times. Price and kilojoule data were collected for all limited‐time‐only menu items (n=54) and a sample of standard items (n=67). Energy cost ($/kilojoule) and energy density (kilojoules/gram) of menu items were calculated. Results: There was a significant inverse relationship between menu item energy density and energy cost (p<0.001). Salads had the highest energy cost, while value items, meals that included a dessert and family meals had the lowest. Conclusions: Fast food chains could provide a wider range of affordable, lower‐energy foods, use proportional pricing of larger serve sizes, or change defaults in meals to healthier options. More research is required to determine the most effective strategy to reduce the negative impact of fast food on the population's diet. Implications: Current pricing in the fast food environment may encourage unhealthier purchases.https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12430fast foodfood policyenergy costenergy densitypublic health nutrition |
| spellingShingle | Lyndal Wellard Michelle Havill Clare Hughes Wendy L. Watson Kathy Chapman Energy‐dense fast food products cost less: an observational study of the energy density and energy cost of Australian fast foods Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health fast food food policy energy cost energy density public health nutrition |
| title | Energy‐dense fast food products cost less: an observational study of the energy density and energy cost of Australian fast foods |
| title_full | Energy‐dense fast food products cost less: an observational study of the energy density and energy cost of Australian fast foods |
| title_fullStr | Energy‐dense fast food products cost less: an observational study of the energy density and energy cost of Australian fast foods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Energy‐dense fast food products cost less: an observational study of the energy density and energy cost of Australian fast foods |
| title_short | Energy‐dense fast food products cost less: an observational study of the energy density and energy cost of Australian fast foods |
| title_sort | energy dense fast food products cost less an observational study of the energy density and energy cost of australian fast foods |
| topic | fast food food policy energy cost energy density public health nutrition |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12430 |
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