Lin YC, Yan HT. The Power of Women: Does increasing women's parliamentary representation reduce intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among children and adolescents?
Public Health Nutr 2022;
25:1-28. [PMID:
35322786 PMCID:
PMC9991828 DOI:
10.1017/s1368980022000738]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is associated with overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. Although existing research confirms the significance of economic and social factors as determinants of SSB intake, comparative studies on political factors and cross-national analyses are lacking. Research indicates that including women in the process of political decision-making promotes healthcare and child protection. This study examined how women's parliamentary representation influences children's and adolescents' SSB intake compared to adults.
DESIGN
The study used cross-national food and beverage intake data from the Global Dietary Database. The outcome measurement was SSB consumption (g/day) for different population groups. We modeled SSB intake as a function of age groups, women's parliamentary representation at the national level (the independent variable), regime types (the contextual factor), and import tariffs on SSBs (the mediator) using country and time fixed effects regression models.
SETTING
185 countries across three waves from 2005 to 2015.
PARTICIPANTS
Different population groups.
RESULTS
The impact of female representation on reducing SSB consumption is more prevalent in children and adolescents than in adults. Furthermore, the effect of women's parliamentary representation on SSB consumption among children and adolescents is conditional on a country's democratic status. Finally, the marginal effect decreases when import tariffs on SSBs are considered a link in a causal chain. No changes in adult SSB intake are statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that the presence of women in the legislature can have a substantial impact on child and adolescent health.
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