Promotion Of Unhealthy Foods Research Articles

Regulating health claims on food labels using nutrient profiling: what will the proposed standard mean in the Australian supermarket?

Proposed Australian regulation of claims on food labels includes requirements for products carrying a health claim to meet nutrient profiling criteria. This would not apply to nutrition content claims. The present study investigated the number and healthiness of products carrying claims and the impact of the proposed regulation. Observational survey of claims on food packages across three categories: non-alcoholic beverages, breakfast cereals and cereal bars. Nutrient profiling was applied to products carrying claims to determine their eligibility to carry health claims under the proposed regulation. Three large metropolitan stores from the three major supermarket chains in Sydney, Australia were surveyed in August 2011. All claims on 1028 products were recorded. Nutrition composition and ingredients were collected from the packaging, enabling nutrient profiling. The proportion of products in each category carrying claims and the proportion of these that did not meet the nutrient profiling criteria were calculated. Two-thirds of products in the three categories (ranging from 18 to 78 %) carried at least one claim. Of those carrying health claims, 31 % did not meet the nutrient profiling criteria. These would be ineligible to carry these claims under the proposed regulation. Additionally, 29 % of products carrying nutrition content claims did not meet the nutrient profiling criteria. The number of products carrying nutrition content claims that did not meet the nutrient profiling criteria suggests that comprehensive regulation is warranted. Promotion of unhealthy foods using claims is potentially misleading for consumers and hinders their ability to select healthier foods. Implementation of the proposed regulation represents an improvement to current practice.

Extending the Fantasy in the Supermarket: Where Unhealthy Food Promotions Meet Children and How the Government Can Intervene

This paper summarizes research concerning the extent of in-store marketing of foods to children and the effects of such marketing. It identifies several strategies that the federal and state or local governments might use to regulate in-store and package-based marketing and assesses the food industry's expected arguments against such regulations. The paper analyzes how courts would likely scrutinize the constitutionality of such regulations to identify which approaches are most likely to make a positive impact on public health and succeed if challenged in court.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND DIETS IN RURAL OREGON: RESULTS OF A YOUTH PHOTOVOICE PROJECT.

Little is known about the effect of the rural environment on children's physical activity and food choices. In this study, six rural adolescents participated in a photovoice assessment to document conditions that influenced children's activity and diets. Physical activity was hindered by inadequate recreational resources, unsafe streets, and distance, but was promoted by the natural environment and support for youth sports. Healthy eating was hindered by busy lifestyles, limited access to healthy foods, access to and promotion of unhealthy foods, and social values, but was promoted by the agricultural setting and gardening. While many of these factors occur in non-rural settings, the findings suggest that rural communities have unique strengths and barriers that must be considered when developing interventions.

Motivational technologies to promote weight loss—From Internet to gadgets

The growing obesity epidemic cannot go unnoticed. It is amajor concern leading to fatal health conditions and high socioeconomic costs. Methods for losing weight are continuously being proposed in themedia [1], in the pharmaceutical field [2], in research [3] and in the general healthcare setting [4] – the expanding communication sources in modern times make it possible to distribute health information at most settings. Concurrently, the promotion of unhealthy foods and beverages reaches similar heights. The uneven battle between science and industry creates counterprevailing messages about healthy behaviors. Despite competing health messages, the major key behind successful weight loss is still behavioral changes [5], or put differently, ‘‘lifestyle-medicine’’ according to Egger et al. [6]. Once the desired bodyweight has been achieved, weight maintenance becomes the primary challenge [6]. Previous research shows that frequent contacts and follow-ups significantly increase the chance ofmaintaining newbehaviors [7–9]. In addition, asweight changes impinge upon individuals’ daily life, a supportive and understanding environment is a vital component of sustaining weight. The use of modern technology in weight loss interventions is expanding. By taking advantage of the potentials of technology,

Television food advertising directed towards Bulgarian children

Background: Childhood obesity is a serious health problem worldwide with a prevalence rising to epidemic proportions. Television viewing is suspected as an important contributor and along with food advertisements significantly...

Childhood Obesity: Perceptions Held by the Public in Calgary, Canada

To investigate the perceptions about causes and prevention of childhood obesity held by the adult public in Calgary, Canada. Using a cross-sectional survey design, adults were recruited from a shopping mall located in a region of Calgary, Alberta characterized by mixed ethnic and socio-economic residents. 264 adults in Calgary, Canada. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that involved rating the importance of 25 potential causes of obesity and 13 potential preventive measures, using a four-point Likert scale anchored by "not important" and "very important". Demographic information including age, sex, educational level, parental status, and self-reported weight and height was also collected. Principal components analysis of questionnaire items revealed five "cause" factors ('parental responsibility', 'over-consumption and media promotion of unhealthy foods', 'misuse/overuse of modern technology', 'children's lack of knowledge and motivation', 'physical activity environment') and two "prevention" factors ('healthy public/private policy and targeted intervention', and 'media campaigns and compulsory physical education'). Tests for group differences revealed that women ranked 'over-consumption of unhealthy foods and media influence' and 'physical activity environment' as more important causes of childhood obesity than men. Additionally, persons classified as obese ranked 'misuse/overuse of modern technology' and 'healthy public/private policy and targeted intervention' as more important than those persons classified as under/normal weight. By providing a snapshot of views held by the public regarding childhood obesity in this large Canadian city, this study offers preliminary guidance about publicly acceptable intervention strategies for use by health promotion researchers and policy-makers.

The extent and nature of food promotion directed to children in Australian supermarkets

The aim of this study was to describe the nature and amount of sales promotion use on food packaging in selected Australian supermarkets, specifically those directed at children through the use of premium offers, such as giveaways and competitions, and cartoon and movie character promotions. The study also examined the promotion of healthy versus unhealthy foods. Nine supermarkets located across the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia were surveyed to assess the extent and nature of food promotion directed at children. The number and types of promotions were measured within seven food categories: sweet biscuits, snack foods, confectionery, chips/savoury snacks, cereals, dairy snacks and ice cream. Any foods that utilized promotional tactics were categorized as either healthy or unhealthy, according to set criteria. The study found that within the seven food categories between 9 and 35% of food products used promotional tactics. The use of television, movie celebrities and cartoon characters for promotion was most common, making up 75% of all promotions. Giveaways accounted for 13% of all promotions. When used, giveaways were commonly used in conjunction with another promotional method. Data from this study also confirmed that 82% of all food promotions were for unhealthy foods and only 18% were used to promote healthy foods. However, for dairy snacks and ice cream the majority of promotions, 99 and 65%, respectively, were healthier choices. This was the first study to describe the extent and nature of food promotions used in supermarkets. The promotion of unhealthy foods in supermarkets is common and is one of the many factors contributing to today's obesity promoting environment. Further research is required to determine the impact of food promotions on children's dietary intake, and to determine the most effective ways to restrict the promotion of unhealthy foods.

Food advertising on Australian television: the extent of children's exposure

The objective of this study was to investigate the extent and nature of food advertising during Australian children's television (TV) viewing hours and programs, and to determine whether confectionery and fast food restaurant advertisements were more likely to be broadcast during children's programs than during adults' programs on Sydney television stations. One week (390 h) of Australian advertising data broadcast during children's TV viewing hours over 15 television stations were analysed to determine the proportion of food advertisements and, in turn, the proportion of those advertisements promoting foods high in fat and/or sugar. One week (346 h) of confectionery and fast food restaurant advertisements broadcast over three Sydney television stations were analysed to determine whether these types of advertisements were more likely to be advertised during children's programs than adults' programs. Half of all food advertisements promoted foods high in fat and/or sugar. 'Confectionery' and 'fast food restaurants' were the most advertised food categories during children's TV viewing hours. Confectionery advertisements were three times as likely, and fast food restaurant advertisements twice as likely, to be broadcast during children's programs than adults' programs. It can be concluded that foods most advertised during children's viewing hours are not those foods that contribute to a healthy diet for children. Confectionery and fast food restaurant advertising appears to target children. Australian children need protection from the targeted promotion of unhealthy foods on television, but currently little exists.

Public perceptions of childhood obesity

Obesity has been identified as an epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of unhealthy body weight among children and adolescents have tripled since the 1980s to 15%. Media coverage of obesity has also increased, and the public is now highly aware of obesity-related health threats facing adults and children. RTI International sponsored a representative survey of U.S. households (n =1047) that included detailed questions about perceptions of the severity, causes, and public support for specific intervention strategies to combat childhood obesity. Logistic regressions were calculated to examine differences in support by sociodemographic characteristics. Respondents considered childhood obesity to be as serious as other major childhood health threats, such as tobacco use and violence, but not as serious as drug abuse. They supported most school-, community-, and media-based strategies that involved offering health information, limiting unhealthy food promotion, and increasing healthy nutrition and physical activity choices, but were generally opposed to regulatory and tax- or cost-based interventions. Logistic regressions revealed significantly greater support for some interventions among highly educated individuals and women, and lower support among parents with children at home. This study demonstrates that there is strong public support for interventions aimed at reducing overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. It also shows specific school, community, and media interventions that the public supports and opposes, and what consequences the public will accept in combating childhood obesity. These findings can help policymakers and public health professionals design and implement appropriate interventions.