Research
Adherence
Lowering the price of food, particularly through temporary promotions and quantity discounts, significantly increases energy intake and consumption volume, especially among low-income consumers and children.
Be aware that sales, coupons, and bulk packaging are designed to increase your total food intake, not just save you money. If you buy a large package or use a coupon, you are likely to eat more, even if you are not hungry. To counteract this, buy smaller portions or dispose of excess food immediately after purchase.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Overall, all the studies reviewed here clearly show that pricing is one of the strongest – if not the strongest – marketing factors predicting increased energy intake and obesity, and this is why lower-income consumers are predominantly affected by these conditions.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple randomized controlled trials, longitudinal field experiments, and econometric studies.
Source
Does food marketing need to make us fat? A review and solutions
Pierre Chandon et al. · Nutrition Reviews · 2012
DOI 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2012.00518.x
narrative_reviewCited 449×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Marketing communications, including advertising, branding, and health claims, influence food intake by altering expectations of taste and health, often leading to overconsumption due to 'health halos' and 'negative calorie' illusions.Good
- Packaging size, design, and convenience directly influence consumption volume, with larger packages and convenient access leading to increased intake, particularly for overweight consumers.Good
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