Beyond cognitive individualism: choice architectures, alimentary habits and obesity in Mexico City

Abstract

<p class="p1">Nudges might be useful to promote changes in agents´ eating habits associated with the epidemic of obesity. But they also could have some limitations. In the article, those limitations are attributed to an assumption of individualist cognition that leads to design interventions in the decision-making of isolated agents that face isolated situations. Urban obesity in Mexico City is presented as a case to show some limitations of nudging in the promotion of new eating habits. The argument is based on some qualitative studies made by some sociologists and anthropologists that address food practices in Mexico City. The case shows the necessity to adopt a rather social and situated view on cognition in the design of food policies to face obesity. Such policies should be oriented to form new eating habits by de-structure obesogenic environments. Not just focus interventions on individual decision making.</p>