WHAT'S NEW

“I’m not looking at the calories right now. I pick the food first and then look at the calories.” 

– From priority of hunger and habitual ordering habits to price and time constraints, a recent qualitative research study from our NYU collaborating center shows that individual and external influences on food choice act as barriers to calorie consideration on posted menu labels. 
At a Glance:
NOPREN is a thematic research network of the Prevention Research Centers Program. Its mission is to conduct transdisciplinary nutrition- and obesity-related policy research and evaluation along a policy change continuum (see below).  The work of NOPREN members helps foster understanding of the effectiveness of policies related to preventing childhood obesity through improved access to affordable, healthy foods and beverages in a variety of settings including communities, workplaces, healthcare facilities, childcare institutions, and schools.
What are Nutrition and Obesity Policies?

Policies that affect the nutrition environment and influence lifestyle choices and behavior. They can have impacts on diet, physical activity, and energy balance.

  Examples include:


  • Financial incentives to encourage healthy food and beverage choices
  • Community design and zoning policies
  • School food and physical activity policies
  • Point of purchase, marketing, and advertising policies
  • Policies that increase access to water and reduce access to sugar-sweetened beverages
  • Menu labeling policies

(adapted from McKinnon RA et al.             "Considerations for an Obesity Policy Research Agenda" Am J Prev Med 2009.
Relevant Policies

Relevant policies may be enacted at the local, state, federal, or tribal level and typically include: 

  • Legislative actions
  • Executive orders
  • City/county ordinances/zoning
  • Agency regulations or rulemaking
  • Contracts/legally binding agreements
  • Organizational policies (e.g. school and workplace policies).
Click here to download a summary of NOPREN
Prevention Research Centers, designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, constitute a network of academic, community, and public health partners that conducts applied public health research. PRCs create health promotion and disease prevention strategies that work and can bring long-term benefits to communities. PRCs also offer training and technical assistance to the public health community.