Evaluation of food and beverage television advertising during children's viewing time in Spain using the UK nutrient profile model

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional quality of products advertised on television (TV) during children’s viewing time in Spain, applying the UK nutrient profile model (UKNPM). DESIGN: We recorded 80 h of four general TV station broadcasts during children’s time in May and June 2008, and identified all advertisements for foods and beverages. Nutritional information was obtained from the product labels or websites and from food composition tables. Each product was classified as healthy (e.g. gazpacho, a vegetable juice) or less healthy (e.g. potato crisp snacks) according to the UKNPM criteria. SETTING: Four free-of-charge TV channels in Spain: two national channels and two regional ones. SUBJECTS: TV commercials of food and beverages. RESULTS: A total of 486 commercials were broadcast for ninety-six different products, with a mean frequency of 5?1 advertisements per product. Some 61?5% of the ninety-six products were less healthy, and the percentage was higher for foods (74?1 %). All (100 %) of the breakfast cereals and 80% of the non-alcoholic drinks and soft drinks were less healthy. Of the total sample of commercials, 59?7% were for less healthy products, a percentage that rose to 71?2% during children’s reinforced protection viewing time. CONCLUSIONS: Over half the commercials were for less healthy products, a proportion that rose to over two-thirds during the hours of special protection for children. This suggests that applying the UKNPM to regulate food advertising during this slot would entail the withdrawal of most food commercials in Spain. TV advertising of products with low nutritional quality should be restricted.S

Compliance with self-regulation of television food and beverage advertising aimed at children in Spain

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of compliance with the PAOS Code (Publicidad, Actividad, Obesidad y Salud), which establishes standards for the self-regulation of food marketing aimed at minors, in television advertising by food and beverage companies that have agreed to abide by the Code. DESIGN: The study sample consisted of food and beverage advertisements targeting children during 80 h of programming by four Spanish television networks. The level of compliance with each standard of the PAOS Code was classified into three categories: 'compliance', 'non-compliance' and 'uncertain compliance'. Overall, an advertisement was considered compliant with the PAOS Code if it met all the standards; non-compliant if it contravened one or more standards; and uncertain in all other cases. RESULTS: Of a total of 203 television advertisements from companies that agreed to the PAOS Code, the overall prevalence of non-compliance was 49.3% (v. 50.8% among those that did not agree to the code), with 20.7% of advertisements considered of uncertain compliance. Non-compliance was more frequent on Saturdays, in longer advertisements, in advertisements containing promotions or dairy products, and for advertisements from companies of French or US origin. CONCLUSIONS: Non-compliance with the PAOS Code was very high and was similar for companies that did and did not agree to the Code, casting doubt on the Code's effectiveness and oversight system. It seems the time has come to commit to statutory regulations that reduce the negative impact of advertising on children's diets, as demanded by public health experts and consumer associations.The authors declare that they have not received any typeof funding for conducting the study and there is noconflict of interest. M.M.R.-F. took part in the design of thestudy, bibliographical research, interpretation of results,editing every part of the manuscript and checking it. Shedid the fieldwork collecting the data and analysed thedata in collaboration with M.A.R.-B., being the first eva-luator. M.A.R.-B. took part in the design of the study,bibliographical research, interpretation of results, editingevery part of the manuscript and checking it. He analysedthe data in collaboration with M.M.R.-F. and he was thesecond evaluator in cases of doubt. F.R.-A. took part inthe design of the study, bibliographical research, inter-pretation of results, manuscript editing and checking it.S

Saturated fat in the diet of Spanish children: relationship with anthropometric, alimentary, nutritional and lipid profiles

OBJECTIVE: To compare the anthropometric, alimentary, nutritional and lipid profiles and global diet quality of Spanish children according to saturated fat intake. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. Food data were collected using a food-frequency questionnaire. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample included 1112 children of both sexes, aged between 6 and 7 years, selected by means of random cluster sampling in schools. The plasma lipid profile included measurements of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) and apolipoprotein B (apoB). Global diet quality was evaluated by the Dietary Variety Index (DVI) and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). RESULTS: Energy intake, DVI and HEI of children from the lower quartile of saturated fat intake (LL) were higher (P<001) than in the remaining children (UL). However, there were no significant differences in average height or weight between groups. The UL children had lower intakes of meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and olive oil and a higher intake of dairy products (P<0.001). The intakes of fibre, vitamins C, D, B6, E and folic acid were higher in the LL children, who had lower intakes of vitamin A and calcium. The ratios LDL-C/HDL-C and apoB/apoA1 were lower (P=0.04) in the LL children (1.87 and 0.52, respectively) than in the UL children (2.02 and 0.54, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The growth rate of children does not seem to be affected by the level of saturated fat intake. Furthermore, at the levels of intake observed in this study, diets with less saturated fat are associated with better alimentary, nutritional and plasma lipid profiles.This study was partly funded by grants from the Fondo deInvestigacio ́n Sanitaria (FIS 020994, FIS02/3104) and theMinisterio Agricultura Pesca y Alimentacio ́n. We thankAlexander G Borun for manuscript revisionS

Social inequalities in changes in health-related behaviour among Slovak adolescents aged between 15 and 19: A longitudinal study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lower socioeconomic position is generally associated with higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption and lower levels of physical activity. Health-related behaviour is usually established during late childhood and adolescence. The aim of this study is to explore changes in health-related behaviour in a cohort of adolescents aged between 15 and 19, overall and by socioeconomic position.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The sample consisted of 844 first-year students (42.8% males, baseline in 1998 – mean age 14.9, follow-up in 2002 – mean age 18.8) from 31 secondary schools located in Kosice, Slovakia. This study focuses on changes in adolescents' smoking, alcohol use, experience with marijuana and lack of physical exercise with regard to their socioeconomic position. Four indicators of socioeconomic position were used – adolescents' current education level and employment status, and the highest education level and highest occupational status of their parents. We first made cross tabulations of HRB with these four indicators, using McNemar's test to assess differences. Next, we used logistic regression to assess adjusted associations, using likelihood ratio tests to assess statistical significance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Statistically significant increases were found in all health-related behaviours. Among males, the most obvious socioeconomic gradient was found in smoking, both at age 15 and at 19. Variations in socioeconomic differences in health-related behaviour were more apparent among females. Although at age 15, almost no socioeconomic differences in health-related behaviour were found, at age 19 differences were found for almost all socioeconomic indicators. Among males, only traditional socioeconomic gradients were found (the lower the socioeconomic position, the higher the prevalence of potentially harmful health-related behaviour), while among females reverse socioeconomic gradients were also found.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We confirmed an increase in unhealthy health-related behaviour during adolescence. This increase was related to socioeconomic position, and was more apparent in females.</p

Adaptación española de la Guía Europea de Prevención Cardivascular

Presentamos la Guía europea para la prevención de las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV), traducida y adaptada por el Comité Español Interdisciplinario para la Prevención Cardiovascular. Esta guía se centra en la prevención de la ECV en su conjunto, recomienda el modelo SCORE para valorar el riesgo y prioriza la atención a los pacientes y sujetos de alto riesgo. El objetivo es prevenir la muerte prematura por ECV, mediante el manejo de sus factores de riesgo en la práctica clínica. Así, se requiere una intervención profesional sostenida para que los pacientes e individuos de alto riesgo incrementen su actividad física y elijan dietas cardiosaludables, y para que los fumadores abandonen el tabaco. La decisión de iniciar el tratamiento de la presión arterial dependerá de sus valores, del riesgo cardiovascular y de posibles lesiones de órganos diana. La meta terapéutica es lograr una presión arterial (140/90 mmHg, pero en pacientes con diabetes, enfermedad renal crónica, historia de ictus, enfermedad coronaria o insuficiencia cardíaca, se deben perseguir niveles inferiores. La colesterolemia debe ser menor de 200 mg/dl y el colesterol LDL menor de 130 mg/dl, aunque en pacientes con ECV o diabetes se deben perseguir niveles inferiores a 175 y 100 mg/dl, respectivamente. Un buen control de la glucemia siempre exige consejo dietético profesional. En la diabetes tipo 1 se precisa una adecuada terapia insulínica. En la diabetes tipo 2 y en los pacientes con síndrome metabólico se debe reducir el peso y aumentar la actividad física y, en su caso, aplicar fármacos. Finalmente, se incluye un anexo con recomendaciones dietéticas adaptadas a nuestro entorno y criterios de derivación o consulta con el especialista de los pacientes hipertenso y dislipémico