Article review: Reinterpreting commercial factors in the determinants of health – The importance of the role of institutions

Abstract

The study redefines the concept of Commercial Determinants of Health (CDOH) by incorporating institutional theory. The authors argue that corporations function not only as economic entities but as institutional actors shaping legal, political, and cultural systems. They identify three dimensions of corporate power – structural, discursive, and institutional – to explain how business interests become embedded in societal institutions. The article concludes that public health must adopt a systemic and institutional perspective to address the health impacts of commercial power effectively.