Christina A Roberto
Biographic Data
| ID | 1727690 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Christina A Roberto |
| GIVEN NAMES | Christina A |
| FAMILY NAME | Roberto |
| SIGNATURE | ROBERTO C A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Pennsylvania |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2333-9309 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 37 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 128 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 37 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Unconditional cash transfers to improve health behaviors among primary care patients
Unconditional cash transfers are a popular poverty reduction approach and may influence behavioral risk factors for chronic disease outcomes through economic and psychological pathways. Few studies have used qualitative interviews to identify the mechanisms through which cash transfers delivered in a health care context might influence the health of people living with chronic diseases in the United States. We conducted a pilot randomized controll…
Modeling the Make America Healthy Again's Food Policy Strategy on Tobacco
This Viewpoint discusses the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s “Make Our Children Healthy Again” report, which implicates the food industry for its role in the chronic disease epidemic
Point-of-sale sugar-sweetened beverage warning posters v . control posters were associated with reductions in school store sugar-sweetened beverage purchases made by Guatemalan adolescents
Objective: We examined whether point-of-sale warning posters, compared with control posters, reduced Guatemalan adolescents’ purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) at school stores. Design: We used a difference-in-differences approach (4-week baseline and 4-week treatment). Our primary analysis compared two schools assigned to an intervention warning poster to one school that displayed a control poster. Based on purchase transaction data, t…
Changing portion size labels of main courses to encourage selection of smaller portions when dining out
Large portions contribute to excess consumption. We tested whether a portion size labeling intervention influenced consumers to select smaller lunch portions. Two cafés introduced a reduced-sized main course (half the original size and ∼30% lower in price), January-May 2024. Cafés were randomized to a portion labeling intervention or control. During the baseline and follow-up periods, the reduced size was called "Small" and the original "Large" i…
High-In” front-of-package labeling of foods high in added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat
BACKGROUND: Front-of-package labels (FOPLs) indicating high content of nutrients of concern (i.e., added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat) have the potential to improve consumer understanding of a food's healthfulness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested potential FOPLs, including "High-In" designs. METHODS: Participants (N = 3,931) were randomized to a control "High-In" FOPL with no icon (based on an FDA design) or 1 of 4 "High-In" FO…
The longitudinal association between caregivers' perceived competence and autonomy and children's dietary consumption before and 10 months into the Covid-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful, potentially affecting caregivers' feeding choices. Caregivers play a role in shaping children's diets, yet few studies have explored how their competence and autonomy, defined by the Self-Determination Theory, impact children's diets. We examined the relationship between caregivers' autonomy and competence and their feeding practices before and during the first year of the pandemic. A national convenience…
Perceived effectiveness of salt warning label designs for UK products and menus
Associations Between Ending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Emergency Allotments and Food Insufficiency
This cross-sectional study evaluates associations between changes in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program emergency allotments and food insufficiency, a severe form of food insecurity characterized by recent food inadequacy
Food choice in transition
Front-of-package claims & imagery on fruit-flavored drinks and exposure by household demographics
Countermarketing About Fruit Drinks, Alone or With Water Promotion
Objectives. To test whether fruit drink countermarketing messages alone or combined with water promotion messages reduce Latinx parents’ purchases of fruit drinks for children aged 0 to 5 years. Methods. We performed a 3-arm randomized controlled online trial enrolling 1628 Latinx parents in the United States during October and November 2019. We assessed the effect of culturally tailored fruit drink countermarketing messages (fruit drink‒only gro…
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Preemption and the Urgency of Unified Mobilization
AffiliationsJennifer Falbe is with the Human Development and Family Studies Program, Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis. Sabrina S. Adler is with ChangeLab Solutions, Oakland, CA. Christina A. Roberto is with the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
The Retail Food Environment
Food retailers, manufacturers, and distributors exert powerful influence on our food choices through decisions about stocking, pricing, marketing, and promotional practices [...]
How psychological insights can inform food policies to address unhealthy eating habits
In this article, insights from psychology and behavioral economics are identified that help explain why it is hard to maintain healthy eating habits in modern food environments. Most eating decisions engage System 1, rather than System 2, processing, making it difficult for people to consistently make healthy choices in food environments that encourage overconsumption of unhealthy foods. The psychological vulnerabilities discussed include emotion…
Evaluating the influence of racially targeted food and beverage advertisements on Black and White adolescents’ perceptions and preferences
Changes in the nutritional quality of fast-food items marketed at restaurants, 2010 v. 2013
Objective To examine the nutritional quality of menu items promoted in four (US) fast-food restaurant chains (McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell) in 2010 and 2013. Design Menu items pictured on signs and menu boards were recorded at 400 fast-food restaurants across the USA. The Nutrient Profile Index (NPI) was used to calculate overall nutrition scores for items (higher scores indicate greater nutritional quality) and was dichotomized to…
Sociodemographic factors influencing island foods consumption in the Pacific Islander Health Study
Objectives: Pacific Islander Americans are a small, but quickly growing population that experiences alarming disparities in obesity and obesity-related chronic illnesses influenced by dietary patterns. This population also has a unique culinary heritage including traditional foods and more contemporary imports such as tinned meats and refined carbohydrates. This analysis is a novel attempt to understand the sociodemographic factors influencing is…
Simplifying mental math
The association of addictive-like eating with food intake in children
As the first study of objectively measured eating behavior, we found addictive-like eating scores in children were positively associated with the total amount of calories consumed. Among younger children, "food addiction" was more strongly associated with the total calories consumed than BMI percentile, highlighting the importance of assessing behavioral phenotypes when evaluating caloric intake. This association between addictive-like eating and…
Food Hardship and Obesity in a Sample of Low-Income Immigrants
Calorie Underestimation When Buying High-Calorie Beverages in Fast-Food Contexts
We asked 1877 adults and 1178 adolescents visiting 89 fast-food restaurants in New England in 2010 and 2011 to estimate calories purchased. Calorie underestimation was greater among those purchasing a high-calorie beverage than among those who did not (adults: 324 ±698 vs 102 ±591 calories; adolescents: 360 ±602 vs 198 ±509 calories). This difference remained significant for adults but not adolescents after adjusting for total calories purchased.…
Patchy progress on obesity prevention
Public Health and Legal Arguments in Favor of a Policy to Cap the Portion Sizes of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
In 2012, the New York City Board of Health passed a regulation prohibiting the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages in containers above 16 ounces in the city’s food service establishments. The beverage industry and various retailers sued the city to prevent enforcement of the law, arguing that the board had overstepped its authority. In June 2014, the state’s highest court agreed and struck down the regulation. Here we report the results of a conten…
Japanese and American public health approaches to preventing population weight gain
A qualitative study of children’s snack food packaging perceptions and preferences
Policies regulating package content and design are required to discourage consumption of unhealthy snacks. This might be another public health strategy that can aid to halt the obesity epidemic
Evaluating the Impact of Menu Labeling on Food Choices and Intake
Objectives. We assessed the impact of restaurant menu calorie labels on food choices and intake. Methods. Participants in a study dinner (n = 303) were randomly assigned to either (1) a menu without calorie labels (no calorie labels), (2) a menu with calorie labels (calorie labels), or (3) a menu with calorie labels and a label stating the recommended daily caloric intake for an average adult (calorie labels plus information). Food choices and in…
Are dietary restraint scales valid measures of dietary restriction? Additional objective behavioral and biological data suggest not
A test of different menu labeling presentations
The Smart Choices front-of-package nutrition label. Influence on perceptions and intake of cereal
Japanese and American public health approaches to preventing population weight gain
An Observational Study of Consumers’ Accessing of Nutrition Information in Chain Restaurants
In this observational study, we determined how frequently consumers accessed on-premises nutrition information provided at chain restaurants. The number of patrons entering and accessing nutrition information was recorded at 8 locations that were part of 4 major restaurant chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, and Au Bon Pain). Only 6 (0.1%) of 4311 patrons accessed on-premises nutrition information before purchasing food. This very small p…
Countermarketing About Fruit Drinks, Alone or With Water Promotion
Objectives. To test whether fruit drink countermarketing messages alone or combined with water promotion messages reduce Latinx parents’ purchases of fruit drinks for children aged 0 to 5 years. Methods. We performed a 3-arm randomized controlled online trial enrolling 1628 Latinx parents in the United States during October and November 2019. We assessed the effect of culturally tailored fruit drink countermarketing messages (fruit drink‒only gro…
Front-of-package claims & imagery on fruit-flavored drinks and exposure by household demographics
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Preemption and the Urgency of Unified Mobilization
AffiliationsJennifer Falbe is with the Human Development and Family Studies Program, Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis. Sabrina S. Adler is with ChangeLab Solutions, Oakland, CA. Christina A. Roberto is with the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
How psychological insights can inform food policies to address unhealthy eating habits
In this article, insights from psychology and behavioral economics are identified that help explain why it is hard to maintain healthy eating habits in modern food environments. Most eating decisions engage System 1, rather than System 2, processing, making it difficult for people to consistently make healthy choices in food environments that encourage overconsumption of unhealthy foods. The psychological vulnerabilities discussed include emotion…
Evaluating the influence of racially targeted food and beverage advertisements on Black and White adolescents’ perceptions and preferences
The association of addictive-like eating with food intake in children
As the first study of objectively measured eating behavior, we found addictive-like eating scores in children were positively associated with the total amount of calories consumed. Among younger children, "food addiction" was more strongly associated with the total calories consumed than BMI percentile, highlighting the importance of assessing behavioral phenotypes when evaluating caloric intake. This association between addictive-like eating and…
Public Health and Legal Arguments in Favor of a Policy to Cap the Portion Sizes of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
In 2012, the New York City Board of Health passed a regulation prohibiting the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages in containers above 16 ounces in the city’s food service establishments. The beverage industry and various retailers sued the city to prevent enforcement of the law, arguing that the board had overstepped its authority. In June 2014, the state’s highest court agreed and struck down the regulation. Here we report the results of a conten…
High-In” front-of-package labeling of foods high in added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat
BACKGROUND: Front-of-package labels (FOPLs) indicating high content of nutrients of concern (i.e., added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat) have the potential to improve consumer understanding of a food's healthfulness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested potential FOPLs, including "High-In" designs. METHODS: Participants (N = 3,931) were randomized to a control "High-In" FOPL with no icon (based on an FDA design) or 1 of 4 "High-In" FO…
An Observational Study of Consumers’ Accessing of Nutrition Information in Chain Restaurants
In this observational study, we determined how frequently consumers accessed on-premises nutrition information provided at chain restaurants. The number of patrons entering and accessing nutrition information was recorded at 8 locations that were part of 4 major restaurant chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, and Au Bon Pain). Only 6 (0.1%) of 4311 patrons accessed on-premises nutrition information before purchasing food. This very small p…
Influence of Licensed Characters on Children's Taste and Snack Preferences
OBJECTIVE: The goal was to study how popular licensed cartoon characters appearing on food packaging affect young children's taste and snack preferences. METHODS: Forty 4- to 6-year-old children tasted 3 pairs of identical foods (graham crackers, gummy fruit snacks, and carrots) presented in packages either with or without a popular cartoon character. Children tasted both food items in each pair and indicated whether the 2 foods tasted the same o…
An observational study of consumer use of fast-food restaurant drive-through lanes
Objective Some versions of restaurant menu labelling legislation do not require energy information to be posted on menus for drive-through lanes. The present study was designed to quantify the number of customers who purchase fast food through drive-in windows as a means of informing legislative labelling efforts. Design This was an observational study. Setting The study took place at two McDonald’s and Burger King restaurants, and single Dairy Q…
Are dietary restraint scales valid measures of dietary restriction? Additional objective behavioral and biological data suggest not
Evaluating the Impact of Menu Labeling on Food Choices and Intake
Objectives. We assessed the impact of restaurant menu calorie labels on food choices and intake. Methods. Participants in a study dinner (n = 303) were randomly assigned to either (1) a menu without calorie labels (no calorie labels), (2) a menu with calorie labels (calorie labels), or (3) a menu with calorie labels and a label stating the recommended daily caloric intake for an average adult (calorie labels plus information). Food choices and in…
Choosing front-of-package food labelling nutritional criteria
Objective The ‘Smart Choices’ programme was an industry-driven, front-of-package (FOP) nutritional labelling system introduced in the USA in August 2009, ostensibly to help consumers select healthier options during food shopping. Its nutritional criteria were developed by members of the food industry in collaboration with nutrition and public health experts and government officials. The aim of the present study was to test the extent to which pro…
Food industry front groups and conflicts of interest
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A test of different menu labeling presentations
The Smart Choices front-of-package nutrition label. Influence on perceptions and intake of cereal
The science on front-of-package food labels
Objective The US Food and Drug Administration and Institute of Medicine are currently investigating front-of-package (FOP) food labelling systems to provide science-based guidance to the food industry. The present paper reviews the literature on FOP labelling and supermarket shelf-labelling systems published or under review by February 2011 to inform current investigations and identify areas of future research. Design A structured search was unde…
The use of sports references in marketing of food and beverage products in supermarkets
Objective Food marketing has been identified as a significant driver of the childhood obesity epidemic. The purpose of the present study was to (i) conduct a content analysis of the types of sports references that appear on supermarket food and beverage products and (ii) assess each product's nutritional and marketing profile. Design This was a descriptive study. Every product featuring sports references on the packaging was purchased in two majo…
A qualitative study of children’s snack food packaging perceptions and preferences
Policies regulating package content and design are required to discourage consumption of unhealthy snacks. This might be another public health strategy that can aid to halt the obesity epidemic
Counter-advertising to combat unhealthy food marketing will not be enough commentary on “Can counter-advertising reduce pre-adolescent children's susceptibility to front-of-package promotions on unhea…
Patchy progress on obesity prevention
Public Health and Legal Arguments in Favor of a Policy to Cap the Portion Sizes of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
In 2012, the New York City Board of Health passed a regulation prohibiting the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages in containers above 16 ounces in the city’s food service establishments. The beverage industry and various retailers sued the city to prevent enforcement of the law, arguing that the board had overstepped its authority. In June 2014, the state’s highest court agreed and struck down the regulation. Here we report the results of a conten…
Japanese and American public health approaches to preventing population weight gain
Food Hardship and Obesity in a Sample of Low-Income Immigrants
Calorie Underestimation When Buying High-Calorie Beverages in Fast-Food Contexts
We asked 1877 adults and 1178 adolescents visiting 89 fast-food restaurants in New England in 2010 and 2011 to estimate calories purchased. Calorie underestimation was greater among those purchasing a high-calorie beverage than among those who did not (adults: 324 ±698 vs 102 ±591 calories; adolescents: 360 ±602 vs 198 ±509 calories). This difference remained significant for adults but not adolescents after adjusting for total calories purchased.…
Sociodemographic factors influencing island foods consumption in the Pacific Islander Health Study
Objectives: Pacific Islander Americans are a small, but quickly growing population that experiences alarming disparities in obesity and obesity-related chronic illnesses influenced by dietary patterns. This population also has a unique culinary heritage including traditional foods and more contemporary imports such as tinned meats and refined carbohydrates. This analysis is a novel attempt to understand the sociodemographic factors influencing is…
Simplifying mental math
The association of addictive-like eating with food intake in children
As the first study of objectively measured eating behavior, we found addictive-like eating scores in children were positively associated with the total amount of calories consumed. Among younger children, "food addiction" was more strongly associated with the total calories consumed than BMI percentile, highlighting the importance of assessing behavioral phenotypes when evaluating caloric intake. This association between addictive-like eating and…
Changes in the nutritional quality of fast-food items marketed at restaurants, 2010 v. 2013
Objective To examine the nutritional quality of menu items promoted in four (US) fast-food restaurant chains (McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell) in 2010 and 2013. Design Menu items pictured on signs and menu boards were recorded at 400 fast-food restaurants across the USA. The Nutrient Profile Index (NPI) was used to calculate overall nutrition scores for items (higher scores indicate greater nutritional quality) and was dichotomized to…
Evaluating the influence of racially targeted food and beverage advertisements on Black and White adolescents’ perceptions and preferences
The Retail Food Environment
Food retailers, manufacturers, and distributors exert powerful influence on our food choices through decisions about stocking, pricing, marketing, and promotional practices [...]
How psychological insights can inform food policies to address unhealthy eating habits
In this article, insights from psychology and behavioral economics are identified that help explain why it is hard to maintain healthy eating habits in modern food environments. Most eating decisions engage System 1, rather than System 2, processing, making it difficult for people to consistently make healthy choices in food environments that encourage overconsumption of unhealthy foods. The psychological vulnerabilities discussed include emotion…
Medicine (24 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (24 works) · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling (23 works) · Psychology (16 works) · Business (15 works) · Food Science (13 works) · Environmental health (12 works) · Marketing (11 works) · Advertising (9 works) · Geography (8 works)