Dietary patterns of school-age children in Scotland : association with socio-economic indicators, physical activity and obesity

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Sugar intake and dental decay : results from a national survey of children in Scotland

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Parents and School Children Talking about Food and Drink Choices – A Focus Group Study

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How important are the influencing factors to the decision on whether to provide seafood in infant and young child feeding?

Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the mothers who volunteered to take part in the Q sort interviews. Sources of funding This study was funded by the Seafish Authority and Interface Food and Drink Scotland as part of a PhD scholarship for SC.Peer reviewedPostprin

A serial qualitative interview study of infant feeding experiences: idealism meets realism

Objective: To investigate the infant feeding experiences of women and their significant others from pregnancy until 6 months after birth to establish what would make a difference. Design: Qualitative serial interview study. Setting: Two health boards in Scotland. Participants: 72 of 541 invited pregnant women volunteered. 220 interviews approximately every 4 weeks with 36 women, 26 partners, eight maternal mothers, one sister and two health professionals took place. Results: The overarching theme was a clash between overt or covert infant feeding idealism and the reality experienced. This is manifest as pivotal points where families perceive that the only solution that will restore family well-being is to stop breast feeding or introduce solids. Immediate family well-being is the overriding goal rather than theoretical longer term health benefits. Feeding education is perceived as unrealistic, overly technical and rules based which can undermine women's confidence. Unanimously families would prefer the balance to shift away from antenatal theory towards more help immediately after birth and at 3-4 months when solids are being considered. Family-orientated interactive discussions are valued above breastfeeding-centred checklist style encounters. Conclusions: Adopting idealistic global policy goals like exclusive breast feeding until 6 months as individual goals for women is unhelpful. More achievable incremental goals are recommended. Using a proactive family-centred narrative approach to feeding care might enable pivotal points to be anticipated and resolved. More attention to the diverse values, meanings and emotions around infant feeding within families could help to reconcile health ideals with reality

Mediterranean-type diet and brain structural change from 73 to 79 years in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936

Acknowledgements: We thank the LBC1936 members and project staff. Study Funding: The LBC1936 and this research are supported by Age UK (Disconnected Mind project), the UK Medical Research Council [MRC; G0701120, G1001245, MR/M013111/1, MR/R024065/1], and the University of Edinburgh. SRC, MEB, and IJD were also supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant R01AG054628. JMW, IJD are also supported by a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (Ref 104036/Z/14/Z). MCVH is funded by the Row Fogo Charitable Trust (grant No. BROD.FID3668413). SRC was also supported by a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (Grant Number 221890/Z/20/Z). Imaging and image analysis was performed at the Brain Research Imaging Centre (http://www.sbirc.ed.ac.uk/), Edinburgh, supported by the Scottish Funding Council SINAPSE Collaboration. LCAC acknowledges 4 Luciano funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) division. MVH is funded by the Row Fogo Charitable Trust Centre for Research into Ageing and the Brain (Ref No: AD.ROW4.35. BRO-D.FID3668413). JMW received funding from the UK Dementia Research Institute which receives its funding from DRI Ltd, funded by the UK Medical Research Council, Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A systematic evaluation of physical activity and diet policies in Scotland : results from the 2021 Active Healthy Kids Report Card

Background: Policymaking regarding physical activity (PA) and diet plays an important role in childhood health promotion. This study provides a detailed examination of Scottish government and policy for child and adolescent PA and diet and discusses strengths and areas for improvement. Methods: Scottish policy documents (n = 18 [PA]; n = 10 [diet])—published in 2011–20—were reviewed for grading using an adapted version of the Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Policy Audit Tool Version 2. Results: There is clear evidence of leadership and commitment to improving PA and diet and tackling obesity in children and adolescents. The allocation of funds and resources for policy implementation has increased substantially over the past decade. Progress through early key stages of public policymaking—policy agenda and formation—has improved. However, there is limited information on later key stages, including policy monitoring and evaluation. Conclusions: Childhood PA and diet are a clear priority in Scotland, and PA and diet policies clearly support the desire to achieve other goals, including reducing inequalities and increasing active travel in Scotland. Nonetheless, future policies should be further strengthened through clear(er) plans of implementation, and monitoring and evaluation to support their societal impact

Evaluation of physical activity policies in Scotland : results from the 2021 Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card

Purpose: The benefits of physical activity (PA) are well-established for children and adolescents, and policy making regarding PA plays an important role in increasing PA. As part of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance initiative, the 2021 Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card summarised the status of PA and health in Scottish children and adolescents prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—reporting on a range of indicators (Bardid et al., 2022). This study provides a detailed examination of the evidence informing the Government and Policy indicator. Methods: Current Scottish PA policy documents (n=18) published in 2011-2020—not including responses to COVID-19—were reviewed for grading. The grade was determined using an adapted version of the Policy Audit Tool Version 2 (Ward et al., 2021). Key criteria in the scoring rubric include number and breadth of policies, identified funding, identifiable reporting structures, and monitoring and evaluation plan. Results: A C- grade was assigned to the Government and Policy indicator. There is clear evidence of leadership and commitment to increasing levels of PA and providing PA opportunities for children and youth. The allocation of funds and resources for implementation of policy has increased substantially since the publication of previous report cards. Progress through the key stages of public policymaking—policy agenda and formation—has improved. However, some policy documents do not identify accountable organisations, whilst others do not include details regarding reporting structures. Moreover, many policy documents do not provide information on monitoring and evaluation of policies. Conclusions: Scotland has many creditable policies at national level. There appears to be good links between the government and organisations accountable for implementation. Child and adolescent PA is clearly a priority in Scotland; it is not only an outcome, but also a means to achieve other goals (e.g., active travel to take climate action). However, current policies provide limited information on how delivery of proposed actions will be monitored and evaluated in practice. Future policies should therefore include more information on monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of delivery of actions, in order to better understand and support policy implementation and its impact on PA in children and adolescents

Food and drink purchasing habits out of school at lunchtime

Acknowledgements The survey was funded by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland (Contract FS424019 to the University of Aberdeen (2010)). The funders specified the design of the survey and reviewed the survey but played no role in the collection or analysis of the data or in the drafting and critical review of the manuscript. JIM, LCAC and GM acknowledge personal support from the RESAS, Scottish Government.Peer reviewedPublisher PD