Abstract Objective: Exposure to marketing for foods high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) reportedly influences consumption, nutritional knowledge and diet-related health among adolescents. In 2018/2019, the UK government held two consultations about introducing new restrictions on marketing for HFSS foods. To reinforce why these restrictions are needed, we examined adolescents’ awareness of marketing for HFSS foods, and the association between past month awareness and weekly HFSS food consumption. Design: Cross-sectional survey that measured past month awareness of ten marketing activities for HFSS foods (1 = everyday; 6 = not in last month). Frequencies were converted into aggregate past month awareness across marketing activities and grouped into three categories (low/medium/high). Consumption was self-reported for fifteen foods (twelve HFSS) (1 = few times/d; 9 = never). For each food, frequency was divided into higher/lower weekly consumption. Setting: United Kingdom. Participants: 11–19-year-olds ( n 3348). Results: Most adolescents (90·8 %) reported awareness of a least one marketing activity for HFSS foods, and at least half reported seeing ≥70 instances in the past month. Television, social media and price offers were the marketing activities most frequently reported. Awareness was associated with higher weekly consumption for ten of the twelve HFSS foods. For example, those reporting medium marketing awareness were 1·5 times more likely to report higher weekly consumption of cakes/biscuits compared with those reporting low awareness (AOR = 1·51, P = 0·012). The likelihood of higher weekly HFSS food consumption increased relative to the level of marketing awareness. Conclusions: Assuming there is a causal relationship between marketing awareness and consumption, the restrictions proposed by the UK government are likely to help reduce HFSS consumption.
Abstract Aims Adolescents in the UK are among the heaviest drinkers in Europe. The World Health Organization recommends alcohol product labelling to inform consumers about product information and health risks associated with alcohol use. This study investigates support for product information and health messaging on alcohol packaging among UK adolescents. Methods The 2019 UK Youth Alcohol Policy Survey was an online cross-sectional survey among 3388 adolescents aged 11–19. Participants indicated their support for seven forms of messaging on packaging (e.g. number of alcohol units, links to health conditions). Logistic regression models investigated associations between support for each of the seven forms and alcohol use, perceived risks of alcohol use, and previous exposure to messaging. Results Between 60 and 79% of adolescents were supportive of different aspects of product labelling. Compared to lower-risk drinkers, higher-risk drinkers (AUDIT-C 5+) had higher odds of supporting including the number of alcohol units (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.31–2.54), calories (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.04–1.68), and strength of the product (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.19–2.52) but lower odds of supporting including information on alcohol-related health conditions (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53–0.87). Adolescents who perceived risks of alcohol use more strongly were more likely to support all forms of product information and messaging. Conclusions The majority of adolescents supported improved alcohol labelling. Higher-risk drinkers were supportive of improved product information but less supportive of health-related messaging. Adolescents who believe alcohol carries health risks were more likely to support messaging.
Population Medicine considers the following types of articles:• Research Papers -reports of data from original research or secondary dataset analyses.• Review Papers -comprehensive, authoritative, reviews within the journal's scope.These include both systematic reviews and narrative reviews.• Short Reports -brief reports of data from original research.• Policy Case Studies -brief articles on policy development at a regional or national level.• Study Protocols -articles describing a research protocol of a study.• Methodology Papers -papers that present different methodological approaches that can be used to investigate problems in a relevant scientific field and to encourage innovation.• Methodology Papers -papers that present different methodological approaches that can be used to investigate problems in a relevant scientific field and to encourage innovation.
Awareness of marketing for high fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS) foods, and the association with higher weekly consumption among adolescents: A rejoinder to the UK Government's consultations on marketing regulation. – CORRIGENDUM - Volume 24 Issue 13
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased public recognition of the importance of research, and driven researchers to use innovative research practices. However, the pandemic has also been detrimental to research capacity for non-COVID-research, including cancer, and has highlighted pre-existing barriers. Overcoming these barriers is essential to restoring research capacity to pre-pandemic levels, but also for expanding capacity and accelerating innovation. This study takes a system-wide approach across professional groups, specialties and research settings to identify policy solutions to improve health service research capacity.
Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted, including a scoping review, secondary data analysis and interviews with funders and research and development leads (n=39). This informed design of a survey of staff in 11 healthcare organisations (n=1235). Case study interviews (n=51) were undertaken in six of these organisations.
Results: The study identified four key themes where policy action is needed:
1) More time and funding: lack of time to conduct research is exacerbated by lack of visibility of research support schemes, and 60% of research directors report insufficient funding.
2) Variations in research activity and capacity across regions, professions and specialties must be targeted: nurses and allied health professionals are particularly under-supported, as is disease prevention and public health.
3) Pathways for getting into research: a life-course approach should facilitate early and continued exposure to research.
4) Research culture must be strengthened: gaps exist between research strategies and delivery, metrics for research are insufficient, and research must be better connected to practice.
Conclusions: Although COVID-19 has brought the health service’s inadequate and unequal research capacity into focus, these limitations existed prior to the pandemic and result from systemic policy failures. An interconnected policy response across four key themes, with improved strategic coordination across all levels, is needed to overcome these widespread and persistent barriers to research. There is no-one-size-fits-all approach to increasing capacity, and capacity-building initiatives must benefit all health service staff, regardless of organisation, profession or specialty.
Impact statement: This study sets out an interconnected policy response for overcoming widespread and persistent barriers to conducting research in the health service, which will support the expanding of research capacity and accelerating of innovation for cancer research.
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