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

Abstract

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.

‘The university should promote health, but not enforce it’: opinions and attitudes about the regulation of sugar-sweetened beverages in a university setting

“…Currently there is focus on implementing population-based approaches to reduce the availability and acceptability of SSBs. These approaches tend to be environment-centred and policy-driven, rather than individual-centred: they aim to change the environment to one of health promoting choices or ‘optimal defaults’ [ 7 ]. These approaches require lower levels of personal responsibility or ‘agency’ from individuals to change their behaviour and aim to create environments that readily enable healthier choices [ 8 ].…”

Evaluation of the Role of Enteral Nutrition in Managing Patients with Diabetes: A Systematic Review

“…Postprandial blood glucose response, which is a risk factor for micro- and macro-vascular complications, has been shown to be influenced profoundly by the specific composition of the diet [ 31 ]. The measure of how soon glucose reaches the blood stream is often termed the glycaemic index (GI) of food while the glycaemic load (GL) shows the overall glycaemic effect of a specific amount of food item [ 1 ]. It is possible that DSFs are formulated with carbohydrates which have lower GI compared with standard formulas.…”

“…The prevalence of diabetes and the cost to the National Health Service (NHS) have been on the increase in the UK [ 1 , 2 ]. Various factors including the failure to maintain a healthy lifestyle such as regular physical activity and healthy dietary regimes, and genetic susceptibility have been ascribed as possible reasons for the high incidence of the condition [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…The cost of major complications resulting from hyperglycaemia to the UK economy has been estimated to be between £872 for blindness in one eye to £8459 for amputation per patient, although the total cost of type 2 diabetes to the UK economy appears difficult to evaluate [ 19 ]. However, in 2007 estimates of 7%–12% of the total NHS budget, which could be £2.8 billion associated cost for the UK has been reported [ 1 , 20 ].…”

Changes in Nutrition Policies and Dietary Intake in Child Care Homes Participating in Healthy Eating and Active Living Initiative

“…[8][9][10] Improving nutrition policies and practices, such as limiting low-nutrient, high-energy density foods, and sweetened beverages, offering more fresh fruits and vegetables, improving feeding practices, and providing quality nutrition education have been shown to be effective and sustainable, yet many child care providers have not fully implemented these optimal policies and practices. [11][12][13][14] Two recent reviews of obesity prevention interventions in early childhood education centers found positive changes in physical activity, diet, and weight status, especially multicomponent interventions with parent engagement components. [15][16][17] However, to the authors' knowledge, there are no published studies in family child care homes (FCCs).…”