Defining the Commercial Determinants of Health

Abstract A critical component of scholarship is defining the commercial determinants of health (CDOH). This chapter develops a more nuanced approach to the CDOH by unpacking existing definitions and argues for the need to acknowledge that some commercial activity is (directly or indirectly) health promoting. It then explores the existing models that demonstrate the complex relationships that exist between upstream drivers, commercial actors, and health outcomes. It problematizes the public health understanding of the private sector by exploring the sheer diversity of commercial actors and activities that could be included within CDOH research. It concludes by theorizing what these new understandings mean for public health researchers and practitioners.