- Email: [email protected]
A “TV diet” and the appetite for healthy public policy on kids advertising
152 |
cANADIAN JoUrNAL oF DIAbEtEs
45 a “tV diet” and the appetite for healthy public policy on kids advertising N.E. Neary1, E. Gentles2, S. Buhler1, S. Trithart1, and K.D. Raine1 1 Centre for Health Promotion Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; 2Heritage Youth Researcher Summer Program, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
public policy measures can be undertaken to address obesity at the population level. A comprehensive, multisectoral response is needed to reduce prevalence, and lessons can be learned from jurisdictions and populations that have undertaken innovative approaches. 47 Media coverage of Obesity-related Legislative and Policy Interventions
Introduction: A recent global study to establish television advertising baselines showed that Alberta had one of the highest rates of TV food/beverage advertising, and that 80% of the food ads in Alberta promoted unhealthy items compared with a global average of 67%. This study was undertaken to analyze the baseline ads collected in the Edmonton area and create a children’s “TV Diet” to quantitatively assess how unhealthy the food/beverages advertised were. Methods: Advertisements were recorded over three days in January 2008 from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm for four channels in the Edmonton, Alberta area. To create a “TV Diet,” the nutrient content of all foods advertised were averaged over three days. The percentage of daily energy intake in calories from each macronutrient, as well as the sodium and fibre intake, was then calculated and compared with recommendations by age and sex from both Health Canada (HC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). results: The estimated TV diet would include high sodium and low fibre intake. The TV diet would contain two to three times the recommended amount of added sugar according to the WHO. Total fat intake exceeded HC/WHO standards for three of four channels studied, while saturated fat exceeded the WHO standard on the same three channels. conclusions: Given the potential health effects of unhealthy food advertising, the high rate of such ads in Alberta, and OECD data reporting the relatively low cost of advertising regulation, policy solutions such as restricting food advertising to children should be considered to counteract negative health impacts. Recent evidence showing public and decision-maker support in Alberta suggests the timing may be right for regulation.
C. Rachul1, N. Ries2, and T. Caulfield3 1 Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; 2Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada and Faculty of Law, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada; 3Research Chair in Health Law & Policy, Senior Health Scholar, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Professor, Faculty of Law and School of Public Health, Research Director, Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
46
48
Obesity in canada
What is the appetite for policy actions to address obesity?
A. Kwan and L. Corscadden Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K.D. Raine, C.I. Nykiforuk, T.C. Wild, L. Flaman, E. VanSpronsen, and S. Trithart Centre for Health Promotion Studies, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Introduction: A joint report examines the state of obesity in Canada, including recent trends in prevalence among key populations, research on the determinants and costs of obesity, and opportunities for interventions. Methods: Multiple years of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and the Aboriginal Peoples Survey were used to estimate prevalence and examine key determinants of obesity. Sex-based analyses of population attributable risk and impact of select determinants on obesity were based on pooled CCHS data. results: Obesity varies across the health regions in Canada from about 5% to 35%. The report and presentation summarize research on both proximal and distal factors that affect obesity and that provide context to regional variation. In new analyses of the impact on obesity of select determinants, physical inactivity emerged as most strongly associated with obesity at the population level for both men and women. It is estimated that obesity could be averted or altered in over 600,000 women and 400,000 men by addressing inactivity in populations. Yet income, rural residence and minority status continued to have an association with obesity even after controlling for more direct health behaviours, such as inactivity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and alcohol use. Opportunities for intervention on various determinants and in different contexts are examined from the point of view of individual, community, and public policy streams. conclusions: Results and literature both suggest that a number of
Introduction: As a response to the obesity epidemic, legislators and policy-makers are developing interventions in the hopes of promoting healthier lifestyles and curbing rising rates of overweight and obesity. Media coverage has been shown to influence policy development to varying degrees, and as such, it is worthwhile considering how the media has portrayed legislative and policy interventions to address obesity. Methods: We analyzed the content of articles from major newspapers in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. that discuss legislative and policy measures to control obesity. We collected 360 articles published between January 1989 and April 2009 in 12 major newspapers. We coded all articles for information regarding the types of interventions that attract media attention, the tone of print media coverage, characterization of obesity, and attitudes toward government interventions to address obesity. results and conclusions: Articles in the three jurisdictions discussed the nature and causes of obesity in similar terms, but revealed differences in attitudes toward obesity, and toward legal and policy interventions to control rising obesity rates. Obesity is primarily reported as a lifestyle problem, but articles state (in varying proportions) that individuals, governments, and industry all share a role in addressing modern environments to promote healthier choices.
Introduction: The Alberta Policy Coalition for Cancer Prevention (APCCP) aims to catalyze policy development to tackle behavioural correlates of cancer incidence. Building on success in tobacco control, the APCCP’s policy scope includes unhealthy diet and physical inactivity as determinants of obesity. Methods: A survey to assess acceptability of policy actions to address obesity was mailed to a census sample of 1,758 decision-makers (elected officials and bureaucrats in government and schools, as well as workplace and media representatives) in the provinces of Alberta and Manitoba (control) in 2009. results: 236 responses were received (13.4% response rate); 77.5% from Alberta, 45.9% represented government, 21.9% schools, 23.5% workplace and 8.7% media. Most respondents believed that healthy eating (HE), physical activity (PA) and obesity were individual responsibilities, although obesity was considered a societal responsibility slightly more often than tobacco, which has received extensive support for policy approaches to influence change. It was not surprising that individually-focused policy approaches to obesity achieved almost universal support (such as providing programs to educate the general public about HE and PA). However, support for environmental change policies was also high (60% for prohibiting advertising unhealthy foods to children and mandatory calorie listings on restaurant menus,
cANADIAN JoUrNAL oF DIAbEtEs
45 a “tV diet” and the appetite for healthy public policy on kids advertising N.E. Neary1, E. Gentles2, S. Buhler1, S. Trithart1, and K.D. Raine1 1 Centre for Health Promotion Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; 2Heritage Youth Researcher Summer Program, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
public policy measures can be undertaken to address obesity at the population level. A comprehensive, multisectoral response is needed to reduce prevalence, and lessons can be learned from jurisdictions and populations that have undertaken innovative approaches. 47 Media coverage of Obesity-related Legislative and Policy Interventions
Introduction: A recent global study to establish television advertising baselines showed that Alberta had one of the highest rates of TV food/beverage advertising, and that 80% of the food ads in Alberta promoted unhealthy items compared with a global average of 67%. This study was undertaken to analyze the baseline ads collected in the Edmonton area and create a children’s “TV Diet” to quantitatively assess how unhealthy the food/beverages advertised were. Methods: Advertisements were recorded over three days in January 2008 from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm for four channels in the Edmonton, Alberta area. To create a “TV Diet,” the nutrient content of all foods advertised were averaged over three days. The percentage of daily energy intake in calories from each macronutrient, as well as the sodium and fibre intake, was then calculated and compared with recommendations by age and sex from both Health Canada (HC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). results: The estimated TV diet would include high sodium and low fibre intake. The TV diet would contain two to three times the recommended amount of added sugar according to the WHO. Total fat intake exceeded HC/WHO standards for three of four channels studied, while saturated fat exceeded the WHO standard on the same three channels. conclusions: Given the potential health effects of unhealthy food advertising, the high rate of such ads in Alberta, and OECD data reporting the relatively low cost of advertising regulation, policy solutions such as restricting food advertising to children should be considered to counteract negative health impacts. Recent evidence showing public and decision-maker support in Alberta suggests the timing may be right for regulation.
C. Rachul1, N. Ries2, and T. Caulfield3 1 Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; 2Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada and Faculty of Law, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada; 3Research Chair in Health Law & Policy, Senior Health Scholar, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Professor, Faculty of Law and School of Public Health, Research Director, Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
46
48
Obesity in canada
What is the appetite for policy actions to address obesity?
A. Kwan and L. Corscadden Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K.D. Raine, C.I. Nykiforuk, T.C. Wild, L. Flaman, E. VanSpronsen, and S. Trithart Centre for Health Promotion Studies, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Introduction: A joint report examines the state of obesity in Canada, including recent trends in prevalence among key populations, research on the determinants and costs of obesity, and opportunities for interventions. Methods: Multiple years of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and the Aboriginal Peoples Survey were used to estimate prevalence and examine key determinants of obesity. Sex-based analyses of population attributable risk and impact of select determinants on obesity were based on pooled CCHS data. results: Obesity varies across the health regions in Canada from about 5% to 35%. The report and presentation summarize research on both proximal and distal factors that affect obesity and that provide context to regional variation. In new analyses of the impact on obesity of select determinants, physical inactivity emerged as most strongly associated with obesity at the population level for both men and women. It is estimated that obesity could be averted or altered in over 600,000 women and 400,000 men by addressing inactivity in populations. Yet income, rural residence and minority status continued to have an association with obesity even after controlling for more direct health behaviours, such as inactivity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and alcohol use. Opportunities for intervention on various determinants and in different contexts are examined from the point of view of individual, community, and public policy streams. conclusions: Results and literature both suggest that a number of
Introduction: As a response to the obesity epidemic, legislators and policy-makers are developing interventions in the hopes of promoting healthier lifestyles and curbing rising rates of overweight and obesity. Media coverage has been shown to influence policy development to varying degrees, and as such, it is worthwhile considering how the media has portrayed legislative and policy interventions to address obesity. Methods: We analyzed the content of articles from major newspapers in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. that discuss legislative and policy measures to control obesity. We collected 360 articles published between January 1989 and April 2009 in 12 major newspapers. We coded all articles for information regarding the types of interventions that attract media attention, the tone of print media coverage, characterization of obesity, and attitudes toward government interventions to address obesity. results and conclusions: Articles in the three jurisdictions discussed the nature and causes of obesity in similar terms, but revealed differences in attitudes toward obesity, and toward legal and policy interventions to control rising obesity rates. Obesity is primarily reported as a lifestyle problem, but articles state (in varying proportions) that individuals, governments, and industry all share a role in addressing modern environments to promote healthier choices.
Introduction: The Alberta Policy Coalition for Cancer Prevention (APCCP) aims to catalyze policy development to tackle behavioural correlates of cancer incidence. Building on success in tobacco control, the APCCP’s policy scope includes unhealthy diet and physical inactivity as determinants of obesity. Methods: A survey to assess acceptability of policy actions to address obesity was mailed to a census sample of 1,758 decision-makers (elected officials and bureaucrats in government and schools, as well as workplace and media representatives) in the provinces of Alberta and Manitoba (control) in 2009. results: 236 responses were received (13.4% response rate); 77.5% from Alberta, 45.9% represented government, 21.9% schools, 23.5% workplace and 8.7% media. Most respondents believed that healthy eating (HE), physical activity (PA) and obesity were individual responsibilities, although obesity was considered a societal responsibility slightly more often than tobacco, which has received extensive support for policy approaches to influence change. It was not surprising that individually-focused policy approaches to obesity achieved almost universal support (such as providing programs to educate the general public about HE and PA). However, support for environmental change policies was also high (60% for prohibiting advertising unhealthy foods to children and mandatory calorie listings on restaurant menus,