Reducing the volume, exposure and negative impacts of advertising for foods high in fat, sugar and salt to children: a systematic review of the evidence from statutory and self-regulatory actions and educational measures

Purpose: To identify and review evidence on 1) the effectiveness of statutory and self-regulatory actions to reduce the volume, exposure or wider impact of advertising for foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) to children, and 2) the role of educational measures. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic review of three databases (Medline, CINAHL and PsycINFO) and grey literature was carried out. Relevant evidence included studies evaluating advertising bans and restrictions, advertising literacy programmes and parental communication styles. Relevant media included TV, internet, radio, magazines and newspaper advertising. No studies were excluded based on language or publication date. Findings: Forty-seven publications were included: 19 provided evidence for the results of statutory regulation, 25 for self-regulation, and six for educational approaches. Outcome measures varied in approach, quality and results. Findings suggested statutory regulation could reduce the volume of and children's exposure to advertising for foods HFSS, and had potential to impact more widely. Self-regulatory approaches showed varied results in reducing children's exposure. There was some limited support for educational measures. Discussion: Consistency in measures from evaluations over time would assist the development and interpretation of the evidence base on successful actions and measures to reduce the volume, exposure and impact of advertising for foods HFSS to children

Advocacy coalitions involved in California's menu labeling policy debate: Exploring coalition structure, policy beliefs, resources, and strategies.

Advocacy coalitions often play an important role in the state health policymaking process, yet little is known about their structure, composition, and behavior. In 2008, California became the first state to enact a menu labeling law. Using the advocacy coalition framework, we examine different facets of the coalitions involved in California's menu labeling policy debate. We use a qualitative research approach to identify coalition members and explore their expressed beliefs and policy arguments, resources, and strategies by analyzing legislative documents (n = 87) and newspaper articles (n = 78) produced between 1999 and 2009. Between 2003 and 2008, six menu labeling bills were introduced in the state's legislature. We found the issue received increasing media attention during this period. We identified two advocacy coalitions involved in the debate-a public health (PH) coalition and an industry coalition. State organizations acted as coalition leaders and participated for a longer duration than elected officials. The structure and composition of each coalition varied. PH coalition leadership and membership notably increased compared to the industry coalition. The PH coalition, led by nonprofit PH and health organizations, promoted a clear and consistent message around informed decision making. The industry coalition, led by a state restaurant association, responded with cost and implementation arguments. Each coalition used various resources and strategies to advance desired outcomes. PH coalition leaders were particularly effective at using resources and employing advocacy strategies, which included engaging state legislators as coalition members, using public opinion polls and information, and leveraging media resources to garner support. Policy precedence and a local policy push emerged as important policymaking strategies. Areas for future research on the state health policymaking process are discussed

Local School Wellness Policies: How Are Schools Implementing the Congressional Mandate?

Summarizes research on school policies to reduce childhood obesity, with a focus on their quality, evaluation, and funding; nutritional standards and nutrition education requirements; and physical education requirements. Identifies remaining challenges

Recommendations for Responsible Food Marketing to Children

The marketing of unhealthy foods to children and youth is a major public health concern. Children in the United States grow up surrounded by food and beverage marketing, which primarily promotes products with excessive amounts of added sugar, salt, and fat, and inadequate amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This document provides a comprehensive set of model definitions for food marketing practices directed to children. The recommendations, developed by a national panel of experts convened by Healthy Eating Research, define the child audience range as birth to 14 years of age; address the range of food marketing practices aimed at children; and specify the strategies, techniques, media platforms, and venues used to target children. When paired with sound nutrition criteria, these recommendations will help support responsible food marketing to children by addressing current loopholes in food marketing definitions and self-regulatory efforts that allow companies to market unhealthy foods and beverages to children

Soda Taxes and Substitution Effects: Will Obesity be Affected?

Obesity, Soft Drink Taxation, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Health Economics and Policy, I12, H20, H71,

Advertising and the influence on self-destructive behaviors with an emphasis on childhood obesity

As self-destructive behaviors are on the rise across society, research is being completed in order to determine links and causes. From binge drinking to over-eating, American society in particular is having negative behaviors become more prevalent and accepted by the media and pop culture. Links to marketing campaigns have definitely been made in the past, but the following research takes a closer look at the direct corresponding link between marketing advertisements and the increase in childhood obesity. An exhaustive secondary analysis of multiple studies and literature helps prove there is indeed an issue with how advertisements are influencing bad eating behaviors within children. If a link can be properly displayed within this category, it will be easier to define a relationship between advertisements and many other self-destructive behaviors

Discriminación y estigma por peso en el sistema de salud: caso hipotético

L'obesitat és considera una de les malalties nutricionals més preocupants. L'evidència científica demostra que el pes està determinat per una interacció complexa de factors interns i externs, molts dels quals no són controlables pels individus. En aquest article es discuteixen les causes i les conseqüències de l'obesitat i com la baixa autoestima en pacients amb excés de pes podria afectar la pèrdua de pes, així com també la discriminació i l'estigma per excés de pes en el sistema de salut. S'utilitzen els principis d'ètica biomèdica de Beauchamp i Childress mitjançant un cas clínic a fi d’analitzar els dilemes ètics que concerneixen pacients obesos. És imperatiu que els metges considerin l'etiologia complexa de l'obesitat en tractar els pacients obesos, perquè les suposicions falses sobre les causes personals de l'obesitat poden promoure la discriminació i l'estigma per pes.Obesity is considered as one of the most concerning nutritional diseases. Scientific evidence demonstrates that weight is determined by a complex interaction of internal and external factors, many of which are not controllable by individuals. In this article, causes, consequences of obesity and how low self-esteem in patients with excess weight could affect loss weight, as well as weight bias, and weight stigma in the healthcare system are discussed. Beauchamp and Childress’ principles of biomedical ethics are used through a clinical case to consider ethical dilemmas treating obese patients. It is imperative for physicians to consider the complex etiology of obesity when treating obese patients because false assumptions about obesity personal causes can promote weight bias.La obesidad es considerada como una de las enfermedades nutricionales más preocupantes. La evidencia científica demuestra que el peso está determinado por una interacción compleja de factores internos y externos, muchos de los cuales no son controlables por los individuos. En este artículo, se discuten las causas y las consecuencias de la obesidad y cómo la baja autoestima en pacientes con exceso de peso podría afectar la pérdida de peso, así como también la discriminación y el estigma por exceso de peso en el sistema de salud. Se utilizan los principios de ética biomédica de Beauchamp y Childress a través de un caso clínico para considerar dilemas éticos que conciernen a pacientes obesos. Es imperativo que los médicos consideren la etiología compleja de la obesidad al tratar a pacientes obesos porque las suposiciones falsas sobre las causas personales de la obesidad pueden promover la discriminación y el estigma por peso

Food and Beverage Marketing to Children and Adolescents: An Environment at Odds With Good Health

Synthesizes research about the effectiveness of industry self-regulatory marketing practices promoting "better-for-you" foods and beverages to children and adolescents. Examines types of media used for unhealthy food marketing and race/ethnicity targeted

The Effects of a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax: Consumption, Calorie Intake, Obesity, and Tax Burden by Income

Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages has been proposed as a means to reduce calorie intake, improve diet and health, and generate revenue that governments can use to address the obesity-caused health and economic burden. Two beverage demand systems were estimated using beverage purchase data for high-income and low-income households. Using the estimated demand elasticities we examined the impacts of a hypothetical 20-percent effective tax rate (or about 0.5 cent per ounce) on beverage consumption, calorie intake, tax revenue and burden. Our results suggest that such a tax would induce an average reduction of 35 and 41 calories a day among adults and children, respectively. The tax burden is found to be regressive, although representing less than one percent of household spending on food and beverages. Tax revenue is estimated to be $5.8 billion using 2007 population estimates.beverage demand, sugar-sweetened beverage tax, soda tax, obesity, tax revenue, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Health Economics and Policy, C34, D12, Q18,

Assessing the Relationship Between Principal Priorities, Written Wellness Policies, and School Wellness Policy Implementation

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between principal priorities, written wellness policies, and school wellness policy implementation. Methods: Principal priorities of nutrition and physical activity, written wellness policy quality and degree of policy implementation were assessed in 95 schools from eight states using the principal priorities questionnaire, the Wellness School Assessment Tool (WellSAT) version 2.0, and the Wellness School Assessment Tool for Implementation (WellSAT-I), respectively. Data is analyzed using Stata Statistical Software: Release 15. All data is presented as means ± standard error Statistical significant was set at p≤0.05. Results: There was not a significant relationship between principal priorities on nutrition and WellSAT 2.0 sections using both comprehensiveness and strength scores. Similarly, no significant relationships were found between total scope and total mastery scores from the WellSAT-I and principal priorities on nutrition. Total strength score and total comprehensiveness score from the WellSAT 2.0 showed no association to principal priorities on physical activity and physical education. Likewise, no association was found between total scope and total mastery score from the WellSAT-I and principal priorities on physical activity and physical education. Discussion: The present study yielded different results than previous literature potentially because this study looked at principal priorities specifically, whereas the previous literature focused on the individual dedicated to improving wellness within the school, whether they were the principal or not. The lack of strict regulations on creating and implementing a wellness policy can cause a communication disconnect between the district and the school. Together with our data, this shows that although the principal is the school leader, their priorities of Nutrition and PA are not fundamental to wellness efforts