Zürcher, Karin, Julie Martin, Joachim Marti, Ana Millot, and Stéphanie Pin. 2025. “[Business Shapes Our Health: Addressing the Commercial Determinants].”. Revue Medicale Suisse 21 (925): 1374-78.
Abstract
In 2021, noncommunicable diseases caused 43 million deaths worldwide, with one-third attributable to four major industries: tobacco, alcohol, ultraprocessed foods, and fossil fuels. In this context, can poor health still be explained solely by individual choices? The concept of commercial determinants of health, increasingly discussed in public health, examines the structural causes of these « industrial epidemics » and highlights the influence of economic actors on population health. It urges healthcare professionals, policymakers, and organizations to assess the impact of industrial strategies on consumption behaviors, while advocating for the implementation of appropriate regulations.