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Hughes JP, Weick M, Vasiljevic M. Can environmental traffic light warning labels reduce meat meal selection? A randomised experimental study with UK meat consumers. Appetite 2024; 200:107500. [PMID: 38763297 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
An important area for tackling climate change and health improvement is reducing population meat consumption. Traffic light labelling has successfully been implemented to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods and sugary drinks. The present research extends this work to meat selection. We tested 1,300 adult UK meat consumers (with quotas for age and gender to approximate a nationally representative sample). Participants were randomised into one of four experimental groups: (1) a red traffic light label with the text 'High Climate Impact' displayed on meat meal options only; (2) a green traffic light label with the text 'Low Climate Impact' displayed on vegetarian and vegan meal options only; (3) red/orange/green (ROG) traffic light labels displayed on relevant meals; and (4) control (no label present). Participants made meal selections within their randomised group across 20 meal trials. A beta-regression was performed to ascertain the change in primary outcome (proportion of meat meals selected across the 20 trials) across the different groups. The red-only label and ROG labels significantly reduced the proportion of meat meals selected compared to the unlabelled control group, by 9.2% and 9.8% respectively. The green-only label did not differ from control. Negatively framed traffic light labels seem to be effective at discouraging meat selection. The labels appeared to be moderately acceptable to meat eaters, who did not think the labels impacted the appeal of the products. These encouraging findings require replication in real-life settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack P Hughes
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK.
| | - Mario Weick
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK
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Mantzari E, Ventsel M, Pechey E, Lee I, Pilling MA, Hollands GJ, Marteau TM. Impact on wine sales of removing the largest serving size by the glass: An A-B-A reversal trial in 21 pubs, bars, and restaurants in England. PLoS Med 2024; 21:e1004313. [PMID: 38236840 PMCID: PMC10796003 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interventions that alter aspects of the physical environments in which unhealthy behaviours occur have the potential to change behaviour at scale, i.e., across populations, and thereby decrease the risk of several diseases. One set of such interventions involves reducing serving sizes, which could reduce alcohol consumption. The effect of modifying the available range of serving sizes of wine in a real-world setting is unknown. We aimed to assess the impact on the volume of wine sold of removing the largest serving size by the glass from the options available in licensed premises. METHODS AND FINDINGS The study was conducted between September 2021 and May 2022 in 21 licensed premises in England that sold wine by the glass in serving sizes greater than 125 ml (i.e., 175 ml or 250 ml) and used an electronic point of sale till system. It used an A-B-A reversal design, set over 3 four-weekly periods. "A" represented the nonintervention periods during which standard serving sizes were served and "B" the intervention period when the largest serving size for a glass of wine was removed from the existing range in each establishment: 250 ml (18 premises) or 175 ml (3 premises). The primary outcome was the daily volume of wine sold, extracted from sales data. Twenty-one premises completed the study, 20 of which did so per protocol and were included in the primary analysis. After adjusting for prespecified covariates, the intervention resulted in -420·8 millilitres (ml) (95% confidence intervals (CIs) -681·4 to -160·2 p = 0·002) or -7·6% (95% CI -12·3%, -2·9%) less wine being sold per day. There was no evidence that sales of beer and cider or total daily revenues changed but the study was not powered to detect differences in these outcomes. The main study limitation is that we were unable to assess the sales of other alcoholic drinks apart from wine, beer, and cider, estimated to comprise approximately 30% of alcoholic drinks sold in participating premises. CONCLUSIONS Removing the largest serving size of wine by the glass from those available reduced the volume of wine sold. This promising intervention for decreasing alcohol consumption across populations merits consideration as part of alcohol licensing regulations. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN33169631; OSF https://osf.io/xkgdb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Mantzari
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Minna Ventsel
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Pechey
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ilse Lee
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A. Pilling
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth J. Hollands
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- EPPI Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Theresa M. Marteau
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Grelle S, Hofmann W. When and Why Do People Accept Public-Policy Interventions? An Integrative Public-Policy-Acceptance Framework. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2024; 19:258-279. [PMID: 37470506 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231180580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The successful introduction of public policies to prompt behavior change hinges on the degree to which citizens endorse the proposed policies. Although there is a large body of research on psychological determinants of public policy acceptance, these determinants have not yet been synthesized into an integrative framework that proposes hypotheses about their interplay. In this article, we develop a review-based, integrative public-policy-acceptance framework that introduces the desire for governmental support as a motivational foundation in public-policy acceptance. The framework traces the route from problem awareness to policy acceptance and, ultimately, policy compliance. We propose this relationship to be mediated by a desire for governmental support. We integrate numerous key variables assumed to qualify the relationship between problem awareness and the desire for governmental support, such as control attributions, trust, and value fit, as well as the relationship between the desire for governmental support and policy acceptance, such as perceived policy effectiveness, intrusiveness, and fairness. We exemplify the use of the proposed framework by applying it to climate policies.
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Rantala E, Vanhatalo S, Perez-Cueto FJA, Pihlajamäki J, Poutanen K, Karhunen L, Absetz P. Acceptability of workplace choice architecture modification for healthy behaviours. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2451. [PMID: 38062407 PMCID: PMC10704714 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17331-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altering the choice architecture of decision contexts can assist behaviour change, but the acceptability of this approach has sparked debate. Considering hypothetical interventions, people generally welcome the approach for promoting health, but little evidence exists on acceptance in the real world. Furthermore, research has yet to explore the implementers' perspective, acknowledging the multidimensionality of the acceptability construct. Addressing these knowledge gaps, this study evaluated the acceptability of a quasi-experimental implementation-effectiveness trial that modified the worksite choice architecture for healthy eating and daily physical activity. METHODS Fifty-three worksites participated in the 12-month intervention and implemented altogether 23 choice architecture strategies (Mdn 3/site), including point-of-choice prompts and changes to choice availability or accessibility. Retrospective acceptability evaluation built on deductive qualitative content analysis of implementer interviews (n = 65) and quantitative analysis of an employee questionnaire (n = 1124). Qualitative analysis examined implementers' thoughts and observations of the intervention and its implementation, considering six domains of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability: ethicality, affective attitude, burden, intervention coherence, opportunity costs, and perceived effectiveness. Quantitative analysis examined employees' acceptance (7-point Likert scale) of eight specific intervention strategies using Friedman test and mixed-effects logistic regression. RESULTS Implementers considered the choice architecture approach ethical for workplace health promotion, reported mostly positive affective attitudes to and little burden because of the intervention. Intervention coherence supported acceptance through increased interest in implementation, whereas low perceived utility and high intensity of implementation reduced cost acceptance. Perceived effectiveness was mixed and varied along factors related to the implementer, social/physical work environment, employer, and employee. Employees showed overall high acceptance of evaluated strategies (Mdn 7, IQR 6.4-7), though strategies replacing unhealthy foods with healthier alternatives appeared less supported than providing information or enhancing healthy option availability or accessibility (p-values < 0.02). Greater proportion of male employees per site predicted lower overall acceptance (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.2-16.5). CONCLUSIONS Work communities appear to approve workplace choice architecture interventions for healthy eating and physical activity, but numerous factors influence acceptance and warrant consideration in future interventions. The study contributes with a theory-based, multidimensional evaluation that considered the perspectives of implementers and influenced individuals across heterogeneous real-world settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eeva Rantala
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, 02044, Espoo, Finland.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Kuopio, 70211, Finland.
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 00271, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Saara Vanhatalo
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, 02044, Espoo, Finland
| | | | - Jussi Pihlajamäki
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology and Clinical Nutrition, Kuopio University Hospital, 70029 KYS, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kaisa Poutanen
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, 02044, Espoo, Finland
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Kuopio, 70211, Finland
| | - Leila Karhunen
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pilvikki Absetz
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33520, Tampere, Finland
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Palacios-Delgado J, Garduño FAG. A mobile phone intervention to reduce heavy drinking: a preliminary analysis of anchoring heuristics. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:427. [PMID: 38057842 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01465-z] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preliminary evidence has been presented for interventions focused on preventing alcohol consumption or reducing the occurrence of episodes of excessive drinking. The anchoring text message intervention is a newly proposed theory-based approach to reducing heavy drinking among youth. The current study tests the preliminary efficacy of this intervention for reducing heavy drinking among Mexican youth. METHODS Focusing on a sample of sixteen Mexican youths-nine not-heavy drinkers and seven heavy drinkers-the participants completed a survey on alcohol consumption and anchoring heuristics. Pretest and post-test questionnaire data were collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The anchoring text messages consisted of strategies to limit alcohol use and feedback reminder messages. Assessments were conducted at baseline, four weeks of intervention, and post-intervention. RESULTS Logistic regression analyses indicated a significant effect on heavy drinking episodes post-intervention. The post-intervention anchoring effects among the heavy drinker participants were different from those among the non-heavy drinkers in terms of reporting heavy drinking and future drinking. The anchoring heuristic-based intervention reduced the quantity of drinking and the future estimation of drinking and improved the ability to reject alcohol in the heavy drinker group. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of the anchoring heuristic-based intervention, conducted through text messages sent by mobile phone to reduce alcohol consumption. The intervention promoted a reduction in alcohol consumption. Future research should be directed toward investigating the anchoring effects among heavy drinkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Palacios-Delgado
- Universidad del Valle de México, Querétaro, México.
- Unidad de Investigación en Neurociencias Aplicadas, Querétaro, México.
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Clarke N, Ferrar J, Pechey E, Ventsel M, Pilling MA, Munafò MR, Marteau TM, Hollands GJ. Impact of health warning labels and calorie labels on selection and purchasing of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks: A randomized controlled trial. Addiction 2023; 118:2327-2341. [PMID: 37528529 PMCID: PMC10952514 DOI: 10.1111/add.16288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To estimate the impact on selection and actual purchasing of (a) health warning labels (text-only and image-and-text) on alcoholic drinks and (b) calorie labels on alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. DESIGN Parallel-groups randomised controlled trial. SETTING Drinks were selected in a simulated online supermarket, before being purchased in an actual online supermarket. PARTICIPANTS Adults in England and Wales who regularly consumed and purchased beer or wine online (n = 651). Six hundred and eight participants completed the study and were included in the primary analysis. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomized to one of six groups in a between-subjects three [health warning labels (HWLs) (i): image-and-text HWL; (ii) text-only HWL; (iii) no HWL] × 2 (calorie labels: present versus absent) factorial design (n per group 103-113). MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome measure was the number of alcohol units selected (with intention to purchase); secondary outcomes included alcohol units purchased and calories selected and purchased. There was no time limit for selection. For purchasing, participants were directed to purchase their drinks immediately (although they were allowed up to 2 weeks to do so). FINDINGS There was no evidence of main effects for either (a) HWLs or (b) calorie labels on the number of alcohol units selected (HWLs: F(2,599) = 0.406, P = 0.666; calorie labels: F(1,599) = 0.002, P = 0.961). There was also no evidence of an interaction between HWLs and calorie labels, and no evidence of an overall difference on any secondary outcomes. In pre-specified subgroup analyses comparing the 'calorie label only' group (n = 101) with the 'no label' group (n = 104) there was no evidence that calorie labels reduced the number of calories selected (unadjusted means: 1913 calories versus 2203, P = 0.643). Among the 75% of participants who went on to purchase drinks, those in the 'calorie label only' group (n = 74) purchased fewer calories than those in the 'no label' group (n = 79) (unadjusted means: 1532 versus 2090, P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence that health warning labels reduced the number of alcohol units selected or purchased in an online retail context. There was some evidence suggesting that calorie labels on alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks may reduce calories purchased from both types of drinks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Clarke
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- School of SciencesBath Spa UniversityBathUK
| | - Jennifer Ferrar
- School of Psychological Science, Tobacco and Alcohol Research GroupUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Emily Pechey
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Minna Ventsel
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Mark A. Pilling
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Marcus R. Munafò
- School of Psychological Science, Tobacco and Alcohol Research GroupUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Theresa M. Marteau
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Gareth J. Hollands
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- EPPI Centre, UCL Social Research InstituteUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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Lemken D, Wahnschafft S, Eggers C. Public acceptance of default nudges to promote healthy and sustainable food choices. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2311. [PMID: 37993839 PMCID: PMC10664270 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17127-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Default nudges are an increasingly prominent tool for promoting healthy and sustainable food choices; however, questions of acceptance remain. While default nudges are more acceptable to the public than traditionally paternalistic tools that aim to restrict choice, they are also the least acceptable amongst nudging strategies. Little research has investigated the aspects of default nudge design that can be leveraged to better uphold freedom of choice, increase public acceptance, and therefore heighten legitimacy of default nudges. Consequently, this study examines public acceptance of five food choice default nudges with demonstrated precedent of effectiveness, as drawn from research studies and/or real-world policies, along with a design variation of each anticipated to increase acceptance. Three drivers of acceptance - perceived intrusiveness, perceived effectiveness, and own behavior - are examined. METHODS An online survey was administered in Germany (N = 451) to a sample representative of the adult population on quotas of age, gender and income. Acceptance and drivers were measured using seven-point Likert scales. Significant differences in median acceptance of the nudge were determined and displayed graphically. Ten proportional odds ordered logit models were applied and estimated using a maximum likelihood approach to investigate the mechanisms of nudge acceptance. RESULTS Examined changes in nudge design, particularly decreasing costliness of opting out and increasing transparency, increased the acceptance of three of the five nudges (N2.2: p = 0.000; N3.2: p = 0.000; N4.2: p = 0.008). Perceived intrusiveness emerged as the most prominent driver of acceptance (negative relationship), followed by perceived effectiveness (positive relationship). Own engagement in the target behavior of the nudge and socio-demographic variables demonstrated negligible impact on acceptance. CONCLUSIONS Mitigating the costliness of opting out and improving nudge transparency emerge as key opportunities for choice architects to improve public acceptance, and thereby potentially identify 'sweet spots' in designing default nudges that are both effective and acceptable. The protection of individual freedom of choice and effectiveness are key aspects for choice architects to communicate to increase acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Lemken
- Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn, Nußallee 21, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Simone Wahnschafft
- Research Training Group in Sustainable Food Systems, University of Göttingen, Heinrich- Düker-Weg 12, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
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Zwierczyk U, Kobryn M, Duplaga M. The Awareness of the Role of Commercial Determinants of Health and the Readiness to Accept Restrictions on Unhealthy Food Advertising in Polish Society. Nutrients 2023; 15:4743. [PMID: 38004137 PMCID: PMC10674888 DOI: 10.3390/nu15224743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The negative consequences of commercial determinants of health (CDoH) have become a major challenge for public health systems, especially in terms of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). CDoH are defined as profit-driven factors that influence health. In this study, we assessed the awareness of CDoH and the attitudes toward potential restrictions on advertising, as well as fiscal interventions targeting food products with harmful effects on health in Polish society. Our analysis is based on data from a computer-based web interviewing (CAWI) survey performed in May 2022 among 2008 adult internet users from Poland. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed for variables derived from three items exploring the respondents' understanding of the relationship between CDoH and NCDs, as well as three items asking about their acceptance of a prohibition of advertising unhealthy products during sports events, a general ban on unhealthy food advertising, and their attitudes toward sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Food (FL) and e-health literacy (eHL) levels were consistently positive predictors of both awareness of CDoH and acceptance of the proposed actions. Both higher FL and eHL were significantly associated with the opinion that advertising unhealthy food is associated with the prevalence of NCDs (OR, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.02-1.05, and 1.04, 1.02-1.06, respectively). Health literacy was less frequently a significant predictor of the dependent variables. Among sociodemographic factors, a respondent's level of education and age showed a significant relationship with their awareness and acceptance of countermeasures against CDoH. Respondents with a university master's level of education were more likely to agree with the statement on the relationship between big industry profits and harm to society's health (OR, 95% CI: 1.96, 1.42-2.69) and to support a ban on advertising unhealthy food similar to that for tobacco products (OR, 95% CI: 1.66, 1.21-2.27). Respondents suffering from chronic diseases were also consistently more likely to show a greater understanding of the harmful impact of CDoH and support proposed restrictions. For example, they were more likely to agree with restrictions on advertising harmful products during sports events (OR, 95% CI: 1.23, 1.02-1.50) and the introduction of a sugar tax (OR, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.03-1.54). Our study revealed that more than 50% of the Polish population is conscious of the problem of the harmful effects of big industries producing and selling processed food, sugar-sweetened beverages, and alcoholic beverages. Interestingly, slightly more than half of the respondents supported the introduction of restrictions on advertising such products. Still, only approximately 30% of them accepted a sugar tax to counter the obesity epidemic. The results of our study indicate that Polish society is open to the introduction of regulations aimed at limiting the impact of commercial determinants of health. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to assess the awareness of CDoH and the acceptance of restrictions to limit their impact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mariusz Duplaga
- Department of Health Promotion and e-Health, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawińska Str. 8, 31-066 Krakow, Poland; (U.Z.); (M.K.)
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Finlay A, Boyland E, Jones A, Witkam R, Robinson E. The impact of calorie labelling and proportional pricing on out of home food orders: a randomised controlled trial study using a virtual food and drink delivery app. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2023; 20:112. [PMID: 37726788 PMCID: PMC10508026 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01513-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mandatory calorie labelling in the out-of-home food sector was introduced in England in 2022, and menu pricing strategies that ensure cost is equivalent to portion size (proportional pricing) have been proposed as a policy to reduce obesity. Food delivery app-based platforms now contribute significantly to diet, and evidence suggests that those at a socioeconomic disadvantage may have greater exposure to unhealthy options on these platforms. However, public health policies to improve nutritional quality of food ordered from food delivery apps has received limited examination. OBJECTIVE This experimental study assessed the impact of calorie labelling and proportional pricing on item and meal size selection, calories ordered, and money spent when selecting food and drinks from three outlet types on a virtual delivery app. METHODS UK adult participants (N = 1126, 49% female), stratified by gender and education level completed an online study where they ordered items from three branded food and beverage outlets (coffee shop, sandwich outlet, fast food outlet) using a virtual delivery app. Participants were presented food and beverage options with vs. without calorie labels and with value (larger portions are proportionally cheaper) vs. proportional pricing. RESULTS Calorie labelling did not influence portion size selection for any outlets, but significantly reduced calories ordered from the coffee shop (-18.95kcals, 95% CI -33.07 to -4.84) and fast food outlet (-54.19kcals, 95% CI -86.04 to -22.33). Proportional pricing reduced the likelihood of choosing a larger beverage from the coffee shop (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.75), but was associated with increased calories ordered from the fast food outlet (51.25kcals, 95% CI 19.59 to 82.90). No consistent interactions were observed with participant characteristics, suggesting that effects of calorie labelling and pricing on outcomes were similar across sociodemographic groups. CONCLUSIONS Calorie labelling on food delivery platforms may effectively reduce calories ordered. Proportional pricing may be useful in prompting consumers to select smaller portion sizes, although further research in real-world settings will now be valuable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Finlay
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK.
| | - Emma Boyland
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK
| | - Andrew Jones
- Department of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Rozemarijn Witkam
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK
| | - Eric Robinson
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK
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Taillie LS, Bercholz M, Prestemon CE, Higgins ICA, Grummon AH, Hall MG, Jaacks LM. Impact of taxes and warning labels on red meat purchases among US consumers: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med 2023; 20:e1004284. [PMID: 37721952 PMCID: PMC10545115 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Policies to reduce red meat intake are important for mitigating climate change and improving public health. We tested the impact of taxes and warning labels on red meat purchases in the United States. The main study question was, will taxes and warning labels reduce red meat purchases? METHODS AND FINDINGS We recruited 3,518 US adults to participate in a shopping task in a naturalistic online grocery store from October 18, 2021 to October 28, 2021. Participants were randomized to one of 4 conditions: control (no tax or warning labels, n = 887), warning labels (health and environmental warning labels appeared next to products containing red meat, n = 891), tax (products containing red meat were subject to a 30% price increase, n = 874), or combined warning labels + tax (n = 866). We used fractional probit and Poisson regression models to assess the co-primary outcomes, percent, and count of red meat purchases, and linear regression to assess the secondary outcomes of nutrients purchased. Most participants identified as women, consumed red meat 2 or more times per week, and reported doing all of their household's grocery shopping. The warning, tax, and combined conditions led to lower percent of red meat-containing items purchased, with 39% (95% confidence interval (CI) [38%, 40%]) of control participants' purchases containing red meat, compared to 36% (95% CI [35%, 37%], p = 0.001) of warning participants, 34% (95% CI [33%, 35%], p < 0.001) of tax participants, and 31% (95% CI [30%, 32%], p < 0.001) of combined participants. A similar pattern was observed for count of red meat items. Compared to the control, the combined condition reduced calories purchased (-312.0 kcals, 95% CI [-590.3 kcals, -33.6 kcals], p = 0.027), while the tax (-10.4 g, 95% CI [-18.2 g, -2.5 g], p = 0.01) and combined (-12.8 g, 95% CI [-20.7 g, -4.9 g], p = 0.001) conditions reduced saturated fat purchases; no condition affected sodium purchases. Warning labels decreased the perceived healthfulness and environmental sustainability of red meat, while taxes increased perceived cost. The main limitations were that the study differed in sociodemographic characteristics from the US population, and only about 30% to 40% of the US population shops for groceries online. CONCLUSIONS Warning labels and taxes reduced red meat purchases in a naturalistic online grocery store. Trial Registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ NCT04716010.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Maxime Bercholz
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Carmen E. Prestemon
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Isabella C. A. Higgins
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Anna H. Grummon
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Marissa G. Hall
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Lindsay M. Jaacks
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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Toumpakari Z, Valerino-Perea S, Willis K, Adams J, White M, Vasiljevic M, Ternent L, Brown J, Kelly MP, Bonell C, Cummins S, Majeed A, Anderson S, Robinson T, Araujo-Soares V, Watson J, Soulsby I, Green D, Sniehotta FF, Jago R. Exploring views of members of the public and policymakers on the acceptability of population level dietary and active-travel policies: a qualitative study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2023; 20:64. [PMID: 37259093 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01465-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited evidence on what shapes the acceptability of population level dietary and active-travel policies in England. This information would be useful in the decision-making process about which policies should be implemented and how to increase their effectiveness and sustainability. To fill this gap, we explored public and policymakers' views about factors that influence public acceptability of dietary and active-travel policies and how to increase public acceptability for these policies. METHODS We conducted online, semi-structured interviews with 20 members of the public and 20 policymakers in England. A purposive sampling frame was used to recruit members of the public via a recruitment agency, based on age, sex, socioeconomic status and ethnicity. Policymakers were recruited from existing contacts within our research collaborations and via snowball sampling. We explored different dietary and active-travel policies that varied in their scope and focus. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic reflexive analysis with both inductive and deductive coding. RESULTS We identified four themes that informed public acceptability of dietary and active-travel policies: (1) perceived policy effectiveness, i.e., policies that included believable mechanisms of action, addressed valued co-benefits and barriers to engage in the behaviour; (2) perceived policy fairness, i.e., policies that provided everyone with an opportunity to benefit (mentioned only by the public), equally considered the needs of various population subgroups and rewarded 'healthy' behaviours rather than only penalising 'unhealthy' behaviours; (3) communication of policies, i.e., policies that were visible and had consistent and positive messages from the media (mentioned only by policymakers) and (4) how to improve policy support, with the main suggestion being an integrated strategy addressing multiple aspects of these behaviours, inclusive policies that consider everyone's needs and use of appropriate channels and messages in policy communication. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight that members' of the public and policymakers' support for dietary and active-travel policies can be shaped by the perceived effectiveness, fairness and communication of policies and provide suggestions on how to improve policy support. This information can inform the design of acceptable policies but can also be used to help communicate existing and future policies to maximise their adoption and sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Toumpakari
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TZ, UK.
| | - S Valerino-Perea
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TZ, UK
| | - K Willis
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
| | - J Adams
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - M White
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - M Vasiljevic
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle, UK
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - L Ternent
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle, UK
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - J Brown
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
- SPECTRUM Consortium, London, UK
| | - M P Kelly
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - C Bonell
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - S Cummins
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - A Majeed
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, W6 8RP, UK
| | - S Anderson
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle, UK
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - T Robinson
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle, UK
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
- The National Institute for Health Research, Applied Research Collaboration Northeast and North Cumbria (NIHR ARC NENC), St Nicholas' Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Jubilee Road, Gosforth, NE3 3XT, UK
| | - V Araujo-Soares
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle, UK
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, Department of Health Technology and Services Research, University of Twente, Twente, The Netherlands
| | - J Watson
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TZ, UK
- South Gloucestershire Council, Badminton Road, Yate, Bristol, BS37 5AF, UK
| | - I Soulsby
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle, UK
| | - D Green
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - F F Sniehotta
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle, UK
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
- Department for Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R Jago
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TZ, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
- Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), The National Institute for Health Research, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, BS1 2NT, UK
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12
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Grunseit AC, Howse E, Williams J, Bauman AE. Are Perceptions of Government Intervention Related to Support for Prevention? An Australian Survey Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11091246. [PMID: 37174788 PMCID: PMC10177783 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11091246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Australia, despite the success of tobacco control policy interventions, policymakers remain resistant to policy-based approaches to diet, alcohol, physical inactivity and obesity, concerned about community perceptions of such interventions as "nanny-statist". We examined how people's general positions on government intervention related to their positions on different preventive policy options. METHODS Data were from a 2018 nationally representative cross-sectional telephone survey of 2601 Australian adults. Survey questions related to endorsement of different conceptualisations of government intervention (nanny state, paternalistic, shared responsibility and communitarian) and support for specific health interventions, using forced-choice questions about preferences for individual/treatment measures versus population/preventive health measures. We analysed associations between scores on different conceptualisations of government intervention and support of different policy options for tobacco and diet, and preferences for prevention over treatment. RESULTS The Nanny State Scale showed an inverse relationship with support for tobacco- and diet-related interventions, and alternative conceptualisations (paternalistic, shared responsibility and communitarian) showed a positive relationship. Effect sizes in all cases were small. Those aged 55+ demonstrated greater support for policy action on tobacco and diet, and greater preference for systemic rather than individual-level interventions. CONCLUSION General disposition towards government intervention, although correlated with support for specific policy actions, is not deterministic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Carolyn Grunseit
- School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
- Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney School of Public Health, Level 6, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, The Sax Institute, Level 3, 30C Wentworth St, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
| | - Eloise Howse
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, The Sax Institute, Level 3, 30C Wentworth St, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
| | - Julie Williams
- Public Health Services, Tasmanian Department of Health, 2/25 Argyle Street, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Adrian Ernest Bauman
- Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney School of Public Health, Level 6, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, The Sax Institute, Level 3, 30C Wentworth St, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
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13
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Venema TAG, Jensen NH. We meat again: a field study on the moderating role of location-specific consumer preferences in nudging vegetarian options. Psychol Health 2023:1-15. [PMID: 36840618 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2023.2182896] [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: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
This field study set out to test whether consumers' history of making decisions in a particular choice context moderated the effectiveness of a nudge intervention to reduce meat consumption. In a Danish hospital canteen that served both staff members and visitors, a combination of nudges (Chef's recommendation sticker + prominent positioning) was implemented to promote vegetarian sandwiches. The sales of these sandwiches increased from 16.45% during the baseline period to 25.16% during the nudge intervention period. Most notably, this increase was caused by the visitors, who had weak location-bound preferences. Hospital staff members (who had strong location-bound preferences) were unaffected by the nudge in their choice. This is an important finding because the two consumer groups did not differ on their person-bound preferences for meat. It seems that behaviour change is best predicted by location-bound preferences, whereas the behaviour itself is best predicted by person-bound preferences. These findings can help organizations in estimating whether a nudge intervention has enough potential for behaviour change, or whether more directive policies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina A G Venema
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Niels Holm Jensen
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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14
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Muir S, Dhuria P, Roe E, Lawrence W, Baird J, Vogel C. UK government's new placement legislation is a 'good first step': a rapid qualitative analysis of consumer, business, enforcement and health stakeholder perspectives. BMC Med 2023; 21:33. [PMID: 36703194 PMCID: PMC9878939 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02726-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current food system in England promotes a population diet that is high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS). To address this, the UK government has implemented legislation to restrict the promotion of HFSS products in prominent locations (e.g. store entrances, checkouts) in qualifying retailers since October 2022. This study investigated the perceived impact of the legislation for affected stakeholders. METHODS A pre-implementation rapid qualitative evaluation of stakeholder interviews. One hundred eight UK stakeholders participated in the study including 34 consumers, 24 manufacturers and retailers, 22 local authority enforcement officers and 28 academic and charitable health representatives. A participatory conference was used to enable policy recommendations to be confirmed by stakeholders. RESULTS Stakeholders perceived the legislation to be a 'good first step' towards improving population diet but recognised this needed to be considered amongst a range of long-term obesity policies. Areas of further support were identified and these are presented as six recommendations for government to support the successful implementation of the legislation: (1) provide a free central HFSS calculator, (2) refine legislation to enhance intent and clarity, (3) conduct a robust evaluation to assess intended and unintended outcomes, (4) provide greater support for smaller businesses, (5) provide ring-fenced resources to local authorities and (6) create and communicate a long-term roadmap for food and health. CONCLUSIONS This legislation has the potential to reduce impulse HFSS purchases and makes a solid start towards creating healthier retail outlets for consumers. Immediate government actions to create a freely accessible HFSS calculator, support smaller businesses and provide additional resources to local authorities would support successful implementation and enforcement. Independent evaluation of the implementation of the legislation will enable monitoring of potential unintended consequences identified in this study and support refinement of the legislation. A long-term roadmap is necessary to outline strategies to support equal access to healthier and sustainable food across the whole food system within the next 20-30 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Muir
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
| | - Preeti Dhuria
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Emma Roe
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Wendy Lawrence
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.,National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Janis Baird
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.,National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.,NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, Southampton Science Park, Innovation Centre, 2 Venture Road, Chilworth, Southampton, SO16 7NP, UK
| | - Christina Vogel
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.,National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.,NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, Southampton Science Park, Innovation Centre, 2 Venture Road, Chilworth, Southampton, SO16 7NP, UK.,Centre for Food Policy, City, University of London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK
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15
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Scheidmeir M, Kubiak T, Luszczynska A, Wendt J, Scheller DA, Meshkovska B, Müller-Stierlin AS, Forberger S, Łobczowska K, Neumann-Podczaska A, Wieczorowska-Tobis K, Zeeb H, Steinacker JM, Woods CB, Lakerveld J. Acceptability of policies targeting dietary behaviours and physical activity: a systematic review of tools and outcomes. Eur J Public Health 2022; 32:iv32-iv49. [PMID: 36444105 PMCID: PMC9897019 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Successful implementation of health policies require acceptance from the public and policy-makers. This review aimed to identify tools used to assess the acceptability of policies targeting physical activity and dietary behaviour, and examine if acceptability differs depending on characteristics of the policy and of the respondents. METHODS A systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42021232326) was conducted using three databases (Science Direct, PubMed and Web of Science). RESULTS Of the initial 7780 hits, we included 48 eligible studies (n = 32 on dietary behaviour, n = 11 on physical activity and n = 5 on both), using qualitative and quantitative designs (n = 25 cross-sectional, quantitative; n = 15 qualitative; n = 5 randomized controlled trials; n = 3 mixed-methods design). Acceptability was analysed through online surveys (n = 24), interviews (n = 10), focus groups (n = 10), retrospective textual analysis (n = 3) and a taste-test experiment (n = 1). Notably, only 3 (out of 48) studies applied a theoretical foundation for their assessment. Less intrusive policies such as food labels and policies in a later stage of the implementation process received higher levels of acceptability. Women, older participants and respondents who rated policies as appropriate and effective showed the highest levels of acceptability. CONCLUSION Highly intrusive policies such as taxations or restrictions are the least accepted when first implemented, but respondents' confidence in the relevance and effectiveness of the policy may boost acceptability over the course of implementation. Studies using validated tools and a theoretical foundation are needed to further examine opportunities to increase acceptability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Scheidmeir
- Correspondence: Marie Scheidmeir, Department of Health Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Binger Str. 14-16, 55122 Mainz, Germany, Tel: +49 6131 39 39 132, e-mail:
| | - Thomas Kubiak
- Department of Health Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Aleksandra Luszczynska
- Department of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, CARE-BEH Center for Applied Research on Health Behavior and Health, Wroclaw, Poland,Melbourne Centre for Behavior Change, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Janine Wendt
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sports- and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniel A Scheller
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sports- and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Biljana Meshkovska
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (UiO-PHN), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Sarah Forberger
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Karolina Łobczowska
- Department of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, CARE-BEH Center for Applied Research on Health Behavior and Health, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Hajo Zeeb
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jürgen M Steinacker
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sports- and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Catherine B Woods
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Physical Activity for Health, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Jeroen Lakerveld
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,Upstream Team, www.upstreamteam.nl, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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16
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Muir S, Dhuria P, Vogel C. Government must proceed with landmark anti-obesity regulations in England. BMJ 2022; 378:o2358. [PMID: 36180089 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.o2358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Muir
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, UK
| | - Preeti Dhuria
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, UK
| | - Christina Vogel
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, UK
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17
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Ma Z. The Role of Narrative Pictorial Warning Labels in Communicating Alcohol-Related Cancer Risks. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2022; 37:1345-1353. [PMID: 33601986 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2021.1888456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the role of pictorial warning labels (PWLs) featuring narrative content in communicating alcohol-related cancer risks. In an online experiment, 169 adult alcohol consumers were randomly assigned to view two narrative PWLs, two non-narrative PWLs, or control. Results showed that exposure to narrative PWLs significantly increased participants' worry about, feelings of risk of, and perceived severity of harm of getting alcohol-related cancer, but did not affect their comparative likelihood of getting alcohol-related cancer or intentions to reduce alcohol use. Exposure to narrative PWLs also indirectly influenced intentions through increased worry. Moreover, participants' risk perceptions and intentions in non-narrative PWLs condition did not differ from those in narrative PWLs and control conditions. Therefore, these findings suggest that narrative PWLs are a promising strategy in informing consumers about the cancer risks of alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexin Ma
- Department of Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations, Oakland University
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18
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Pechey R, Reynolds JP, Cook B, Marteau TM, Jebb SA. Acceptability of policies to reduce consumption of red and processed meat: A population-based survey experiment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 81:101817. [PMID: 36523649 PMCID: PMC9742849 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Policies to reduce meat consumption are needed to help achieve climate change targets, and could also improve population health. Public acceptability can affect the likelihood of policy implementation. This study estimated the acceptability of policies to reduce red and processed meat consumption, and whether acceptability differed when policies were framed as benefitting health or the environment. In an online experiment, 2215 UK adults rated the acceptability of six policies, presented in a randomised order. Prior to rating policies, participants were randomised to one of two framing conditions, with policy outcomes described either as benefitting health or the environment. Regression models examined differences in the primary outcome - policy acceptability (rated on a 7-point scale) - by framing. Labels were the most accepted policy (48% support), followed by a media campaign (45%), reduced availability (40%) and providing incentives (38%). Increasing price (27%) and banning advertising (26%) were the least accepted. A substantial proportion of participants neither supported nor opposed most policies (26-33%), although this fell to 16% for increasing price. There was no evidence that framing policy benefits from a health or environment perspective influenced acceptability (-0.06, 95%CIs: 0.18,0.07). Fewer than half of the UK sample expressed support for any of six policies to reduce meat consumption, regardless of framing measures as benefitting health or the environment. Conversely, fewer than half expressed opposition, with the exception of price, suggesting considerable scope to influence public opinion in support of meat reduction measures to meet environmental and health goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Pechey
- University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - James P. Reynolds
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK
- School of Psychology, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| | - Brian Cook
- University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Theresa M. Marteau
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Susan A. Jebb
- University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
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19
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Yi S, Kanetkar V, Brauer P. Customer support for nudge strategies to promote fruit and vegetable intake in a university food service. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:706. [PMID: 35399080 PMCID: PMC8994925 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13054-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Diverse nudges, also known as choice architectural techniques, have been found to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) selection in both lab and field studies. Such strategies are unlikely to be adopted in mass eating settings without clear evidence of customer support; confirmation in specific contexts is needed. Inspired by the Taxonomy of Choice Architecture, we assessed support for eight types of nudging to increase the choice of FV-rich foods in a university food service. We also explored whether and to what extent nudge support was associated with perceived effectiveness and intrusiveness. Methods An online survey was conducted with students who used on-campus cafeterias. Multiple recruitment methods were used. Participants were given 20 specific scenarios for increasing FV selection and asked about their personal support for each nudge, as well as perceived intrusiveness and effectiveness. General beliefs about healthy eating and nudging were also measured. Results were assessed by repeated measures ANOVA for the 8 nudge types. Results All nudge scenarios achieved overall favourable ratings, with significant differences among different types of nudging by the 298 respondents. Changing range of options (type B3) and changing option-related consequences (type B4) received the highest support, followed by changing option-related effort (type B2) and making information visible (type A2). Translating information (type A1), changing defaults (type B1) and providing reminders or facilitating commitment (type C) were less popular types of nudging. Providing social reference points (type A3) was least supported. Support for nudge types was positively associated with the belief that food services have a role in promoting healthy eating, perceived importance of FV intake, trustworthiness of the choice architect and female gender. Lastly, support for all types of nudges was positively predicted by perceived effectiveness of each nudge and negatively predicted by perceived intrusiveness above and beyond the contribution of general beliefs about healthy eating and nudging. Conclusions Findings from the current study indicate significant differences in support for nudge techniques intended to increase FV selection among university cafeteria users. These findings offer practical implications for food service operators as well as public health researchers. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13054-7.
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20
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Kawa C, Gijselaers WH, Nijhuis JFH, Ianiro-Dahm PM. Are You "Nudgeable"? Factors Affecting the Acceptance of Healthy Eating Nudges in a Cafeteria Setting. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074107. [PMID: 35409789 PMCID: PMC8998962 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Research has identified nudging as a promising and effective tool to improve healthy eating behavior in a cafeteria setting. However, it remains unclear who is and who is not “nudgeable” (susceptible to nudges). An important influencing factor at the individual level is nudge acceptance. While some progress has been made in determining influences on the acceptance of healthy eating nudges, research on how personal characteristics (such as the perception of social norms) affect nudge acceptance remains scarce. We conducted a survey on 1032 university students to assess the acceptance of nine different types of healthy eating nudges in a cafeteria setting with four influential factors (social norms, health-promoting collaboration, responsibility to promote healthy eating, and procrastination). These factors are likely to play a role within a university and a cafeteria setting. The present study showed that key influential factors of nudge acceptance were the perceived responsibility to promote healthy eating and health-promoting collaboration. We also identified three different student clusters with respect to nudge acceptance, demonstrating that not all nudges were accepted equally. In particular, default, salience, and priming nudges were at least moderately accepted regardless of the degree of nudgeability. Our findings provide useful policy implications for nudge development by university, cafeteria, and public health officials. Recommendations are formulated for strengthening the theoretical background of nudge acceptance and the susceptibility to nudges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Kawa
- Department of Management Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Wim H. Gijselaers
- Department of Educational Research and Development, School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University, 6211 LM Maastricht, The Netherlands; (W.H.G.); (J.F.H.N.)
| | - Jan F. H. Nijhuis
- Department of Educational Research and Development, School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University, 6211 LM Maastricht, The Netherlands; (W.H.G.); (J.F.H.N.)
| | - Patrizia M. Ianiro-Dahm
- Department of Management Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany;
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21
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Piernas C, Harmer G, Jebb SA. Removing seasonal confectionery from prominent store locations and purchasing behaviour within a major UK supermarket: Evaluation of a nonrandomised controlled intervention study. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1003951. [PMID: 35324903 PMCID: PMC8946674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The proportion of energy from free sugars and saturated fat currently exceeds the UK-recommended intake across all age groups. Recognising the limits of reformulation programmes, the government in England has announced their intention to introduce legislation to restrict the promotion of foods high in free sugars, salt, and saturated fats in prominent store locations. Here, we evaluated a grocery store intervention to remove seasonal confectionery from prominent locations within a major UK supermarket. METHODS AND FINDINGS A nonrandomised controlled intervention study with interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was used. Data were analysed from 34 intervention stores located in 2 London boroughs and 151 matched control stores located elsewhere in the UK owned by the same retailer. Stores were matched based on store size and overall sales during the previous year. Between 15 February 2019 and 3 April 2019 (before Easter), stores removed free-standing promotional display units of seasonal confectionery from prominent areas, although these products were available for purchase elsewhere in the store. Store-level weekly sales (units, weight (g), and value (£)) of seasonal chocolate confectionery products were used in primary analyses, with data from 1 January 2018 to 24 November 2019. Secondary outcomes included total energy, fat, saturated fat, and sugars from all in-store purchases. Multivariable hierarchical models were used to investigate pre/post differences in weekly sales of confectionery in intervention versus control stores. ITS analyses were used to evaluate differences in level and trends after intervention implementation. Over a preintervention baseline period (15 February 2018 to 3 April 2018), there were no significant differences in sales (units, weight, and value) of all chocolate confectionery between intervention versus control stores. After intervention implementation, there was an attenuation in the seasonal increase of confectionery sales (units) in intervention stores compared to control (+5% versus +18%; P < 0.001), with similar effects on weight (g) (+12% versus +31%; P < 0.001) and value (£) (-3% versus +10%; P < 0.001). ITS analyses generally showed statistically significant differences in the level at the point of intervention (P ranges 0.010 to 0.067) but also in the trend afterwards (P ranges 0.024 to 0.053), indicating that the initial difference between intervention and control stores reduced over time. There was a significant difference in level change in total energy sold, adjusted for the total weight of food and drink (kcal/g, P = 0.002), and total fat (fat/g) (P = 0.023), but no significant changes in saturated fat or sugars from total sales in ITS models. There was no evidence that the main results varied across store deprivation index. The limitations of this study include the lack of randomisation, residual confounding from unmeasured variables, absolute differences in trends and sales between intervention versus control stores, and no independent measures of intervention fidelity. CONCLUSIONS Removal of chocolate confectionery from prominent locations was associated with reduced purchases of these products, of sufficient magnitude to observe a reduction in the energy content of total food purchases. These results from a "real-world" intervention provide promising evidence that the proposed legislation in England to restrict promotions of less healthy items in prominent locations may help reduce overconsumption. TRIAL REGISTRATION https://osf.io/br96f/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Piernas
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Georgina Harmer
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Susan A. Jebb
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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22
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Staub C, Fuchs C, Siegrist M. Risk perception and acceptance of health warning labels on wine. Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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23
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Staub C, Siegrist M. How health warning labels on wine and vodka bottles influence perceived risk, rejection, and acceptance. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:157. [PMID: 35073894 PMCID: PMC8785573 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12564-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Wine consumption has a particular place in the culture of many European countries, and beliefs that wine offers health benefits are widespread. High consumption of wine and other alcoholic beverages among many Europeans correlates with alcohol-related accidents and disease burdens. Health warning labels (HWLs) on alcohol containers have been increasingly recommended to deter consumers from drinking. However, findings on the impact of HWLs on consumers’ behavior have been mixed. Moreover, many European consumers have been found to reject the use of warning labels as a policy intervention, especially for wine, perhaps due to its cultural and economic importance. Methods An online study with a between-subjects design was conducted in Switzerland (N = 506) to assess whether HWLs can influence the perceived risk associated with drinking wine and vodka, a beverage insignificant to Swiss culture. Participants were presented an image of either a wine or vodka bottle with or without an HWL presenting a liver cancer warning statement. They were then asked to indicate their perceived risk of regularly consuming the depicted beverage. Acceptance and rejection of HWLs were also assessed. Results The perceived risk of vodka consumption exceeded the corresponding risk for wine but was unaffected by an HWL. Perceived health benefits were the main, negative predictor of perceived consumption risk. Participants mainly rejected HWLs due to their perceived effectiveness, perceived positive health effects, social norms, and individualistic values. Conclusions Perceived risk is an important determinant of drinking behavior, and our results suggest that HWLs may be unable to alter risk perceptions. Furthermore, a strong belief in the health benefits of alcohol consumption, particularly wine consumption, reduce risk perceptions and may be unaffected by HWLs.
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Mantzari E, Reynolds JP, Jebb SA, Hollands GJ, Pilling MA, Marteau TM. Public support for policies to improve population and planetary health: A population-based online experiment assessing impact of communicating evidence of multiple versus single benefits. Soc Sci Med 2022; 296:114726. [PMID: 35093794 PMCID: PMC8907862 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Effective interventions for reducing the consumption of products that harm population and planetary health often lack public support, impeding implementation. Communicating evidence of policies’ effectiveness can increase public support but there is uncertainty about the most effective ways of communicating this evidence. Some policies have multiple benefits such as both improving health and the environment. This study assesses whether communicating evidence of multiple versus single benefits of a policy increases its support. Method Participants (n = 4616) nationally representative of the British population were randomised to one of 24 groups in an online experiment with a 4 × 3 × 2 between-subjects factorial design. The messages that participants viewed differed according to the evidence they communicated (no message, effectiveness for changing behaviour, effectiveness for changing behaviour + one policy benefit, effectiveness for changing behaviour + three policy benefits), type of policy (taxation, availability) and the target behaviour (consumption of energy-dense food, alcohol, or meat). The primary outcome was policy support. Results In a full factorial ANOVA, there was a significant main effect of communicating evidence of effectiveness on policy support, which was similar across policies and behaviours. Communicating three benefits increased support relative to communicating one benefit (d = 0.15; p = 0.01). Communicating one benefit increased support compared to providing evidence for changing behaviour alone (d = 0.13; p = 0.004) or no message (d = 0.11 p = 0.022). Conclusion Communicating evidence of a policy's benefits increases support for policy action across different behaviours and policies. Presenting multiple benefits of policies enhances public support. Providing evidence of policies effectiveness at achieving policy goals increases public support. Uncertainty exists about the most effective ways of communicating this evidence. Evidence about multiple policy benefits increases support more than evidence for a single benefit. Effects are evident across behaviours and policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Mantzari
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James P Reynolds
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Susan A Jebb
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Gareth J Hollands
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark A Pilling
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Theresa M Marteau
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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25
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Clarke N, Blackwell AKM, De-Loyde K, Pechey E, Hobson A, Pilling M, Morris RW, Marteau TM, Hollands GJ. Health warning labels and alcohol selection: a randomised controlled experiment in a naturalistic shopping laboratory. Addiction 2021; 116:3333-3345. [PMID: 33861881 DOI: 10.1111/add.15519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Health warning labels (HWLs) on tobacco products reduce smoking. There is an absence of evidence concerning the impact of alcohol HWLs on selection or purchasing in naturalistic settings. Using a commercial-standard naturalistic shopping laboratory, this study aimed to estimate the impact on selection of alcoholic drinks of HWLs describing adverse health consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. DESIGN A between-subjects randomised experiment with three groups was conducted: group 1: image-and-text HWL; group 2: text-only HWL; group 3: no HWL. SETTING A commercial-standard naturalistic shopping laboratory in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS Adults (n = 399, 55% female) over the age of 18 years, who purchased beer or wine weekly to drink at home. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomised to one of three groups varying in the HWL displayed on the packaging of the alcoholic drinks: (i) image-and-text HWL (n = 135); (ii) text-only HWL (n = 129); (iii) no HWL (n = 135). Participants completed a shopping task, selecting items from a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks. MEASUREMENT The primary outcome was the proportion of alcoholic drinks selected. Secondary outcomes included HWL ratings on negative emotional arousal and label acceptability. FINDINGS There was no clear evidence of a difference in the HWL groups for the percentage of drinks selected that were alcoholic compared to no HWL (44%): image-and-text HWL: 46% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.82, 1.42); text-only HWL: 41% (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.67, 1.14). Concordant with there being no difference between groups, there was extreme evidence in favour of the null hypothesis (Bayes factor [BF] < 0.01). Negative emotional arousal was higher (P < 0.001) and acceptability lower (P < 0.001) in the image-and-text HWL group, compared to the text-only HWL group. CONCLUSIONS In a naturalistic shopping laboratory, there was no evidence that health warning labels describing the adverse health consequences of excessive alcohol consumption changed selection behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Clarke
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna K M Blackwell
- Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Katie De-Loyde
- Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Emily Pechey
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alice Hobson
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark Pilling
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Theresa M Marteau
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gareth J Hollands
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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26
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Grunseit AC, Howse E, Bohn-Goldbaum E, Mitchell J, Bauman AE. Changes in Australian community perceptions of non-communicable disease prevention: a greater role for government? BMC Public Health 2021; 21:2094. [PMID: 34781923 PMCID: PMC8591602 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12159-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Monitoring trends in community opinion can identify critical opportunities to implement upstream health policies or interventions. Our study examines change and demographic modifiers of change in community perceptions of government intervention for prevention of lifestyle-related chronic disease across two time points in Australia. Methods Data were drawn from the 2016 (n = 2052) and 2018 (n = 2601) waves of a nationally representative cross-sectional telephone survey, ‘AUSPOPS’. Survey questions gauged perceptions of government intervention for health in general, peoples’/organizations’ role in maintaining health (e.g., parents, government) and support for specific health interventions (e.g., taxing soft drink). Bivariate and multivariate regression models tested for change between the two surveys, adjusted for demographic characteristics. Models with interactions between survey wave and demographic variables tested for differential change. One-tailed variance ratio tests examined whether opinions had become more polarized in 2018 compared with 2016. Results The large, significant increase observed in the perceived size of the role that government has in maintaining people’s health was uniform across demographic subpopulations. The role for employers and private health insurers was also perceived to be larger in 2018 compared with 2016, but the degree of change varied by gender, age and/or socioeconomic status. Support for some government interventions (e.g., taxing soft drinks) increased among specific demographic subgroups whilst exhibiting no overall change. Opinion was more polarized on general attitudes to government intervention for population health in 2018 compared to 2016, despite little change in central tendency. Conclusions Opportunities may exist to implement government health-promoting policies (e.g., taxing soft drinks), although advocacy may be needed to address the concerns of less supportive subpopulations. Attitudes on government intervention in general may be becoming more polarized; future research examining the association of such changes with exposure to different information sources could inform communication strategies for future health policy change. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12159-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Grunseit
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Level 6, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Eloise Howse
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, The Sax Institute, Level 3, 30C Wentworth St, Glebe, NSW, 2037, Australia
| | - Erika Bohn-Goldbaum
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Level 6, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Jo Mitchell
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, The Sax Institute, Level 3, 30C Wentworth St, Glebe, NSW, 2037, Australia
| | - Adrian E Bauman
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Level 6, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
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27
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa M Marteau
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Nick Chater
- Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, UK
| | - Emma E Garnett
- Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge UK
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28
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Howse E, Watts C, McGill B, Kite J, Rowbotham S, Hawe P, Bauman A, Freeman B. Sydney's 'last drinks' laws: A content analysis of news media coverage of views and arguments about a preventive health policy. Drug Alcohol Rev 2021; 41:561-574. [PMID: 34551171 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION News media representation of preventive health policies can influence public discussion and political decision making, impacting policy implementation and sustainability. This study analysed news media coverage of the contested 'last drinks' alcohol laws in Sydney, Australia, to understand the arguments made by different 'actors' (stakeholders) regarding the laws and provide insights on how preventive health policies are positioned within media discourse. METHODS We identified print and online news media articles discussing the laws from 2014 to 2020. Content analysis was used to quantify the arguments made to justify support or opposition to the laws. RESULTS A total of 445 articles were included for analysis. Four hundred and thirty-five actors were identified, with industry actors mentioned most (213 times) followed by health actors (136 times). There were more quotes from opponents of the laws compared to supporters of the laws (57% vs. 25%). The proportion of media mentions reduced for supporters (34% in 2014 to 14% in 2020) while mentions increased for opponents (47% in 2014 to 73% in 2020). Supporters used arguments about crime, safety and health. Opponents of the laws focused on issues such as Sydney's 'night time economy' and negative impacts of the laws. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Opponents of the laws strategically used the media to influence public debate. Opponents, including industry actors, also ignored the health impacts of alcohol and utilised campaign groups to advocate against the laws. These findings have implications for how governments and advocates communicate and build support for contested preventive health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Howse
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Christina Watts
- The Daffodil Centre, Cancer Council NSW and The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bronwyn McGill
- Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - James Kite
- Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Samantha Rowbotham
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Penelope Hawe
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Adrian Bauman
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Becky Freeman
- Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Clarke N, Pechey E, Kosīte D, König LM, Mantzari E, Blackwell AK, Marteau TM, Hollands GJ. Impact of health warning labels on selection and consumption of food and alcohol products: systematic review with meta-analysis. Health Psychol Rev 2021; 15:430-453. [PMID: 32515697 PMCID: PMC8635708 DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2020.1780147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Health warning labels (HWLs) could reduce harmful consumption of food (including non-alcoholic drinks) and alcoholic drinks. A systematic review with meta-analysis using Cochrane methods was conducted to assess the impact on selection (including hypothetical selection) or consumption of food or alcoholic drink products displaying image-and-text (sometimes termed 'pictorial') and text-only HWLs. Fourteen randomised controlled trials were included, three for alcohol, eleven for food. For the primary outcomes, eleven studies measured selection and one measured consumption (two measured only other secondary outcomes). Meta-analysis of twelve comparisons from nine studies (n=12,635) found HWLs reduced selection of the targeted product compared with no HWL (RR=0.74 (95%CI 0.68-0.80)), with participants 26% less likely to choose a product displaying a HWL. A planned subgroup analysis suggested a larger (although not statistically significant) effect on selection of image-and-text HWLs (RR=0.65 (95%CI 0.54-0.80)) than text-only HWLs (RR=0.79 (95%CI 0.74-0.85)). These findings suggest significant potential for HWLs to reduce selection of food and alcoholic drinks, but all experimental studies to date were conducted in laboratory or online settings with outcomes assessed immediately after a single exposure. Studies in field and naturalistic laboratory settings are needed to estimate the potential effects of food and alcohol HWLs.Study registration: PROSPERO 2018 (registration number: CRD42018106522).
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Clarke
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emily Pechey
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Daina Kosīte
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Laura M. König
- Psychological Assessment & Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Eleni Mantzari
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna K.M. Blackwell
- Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Theresa M. Marteau
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gareth J. Hollands
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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30
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Piernas C, Cook B, Stevens R, Stewart C, Hollowell J, Scarborough P, Jebb SA. Estimating the effect of moving meat-free products to the meat aisle on sales of meat and meat-free products: A non-randomised controlled intervention study in a large UK supermarket chain. PLoS Med 2021; 18:e1003715. [PMID: 34264943 PMCID: PMC8321099 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reducing meat consumption could bring health and environmental benefits, but there is little research to date on effective interventions to achieve this. A non-randomised controlled intervention study was used to evaluate whether prominent positioning of meat-free products in the meat aisle was associated with a change in weekly mean sales of meat and meat-free products. METHODS AND FINDINGS Weekly sales data were obtained from 108 stores: 20 intervention stores that moved a selection of 26 meat-free products into a newly created meat-free bay within the meat aisle and 88 matched control stores. The primary outcome analysis used a hierarchical negative binomial model to compare changes in weekly sales (units) of meat products sold in intervention versus control stores during the main intervention period (Phase I: February 2019 to April 2019). Interrupted time series analysis was also used to evaluate the effects of the Phase I intervention. Moreover, 8 of the 20 stores enhanced the intervention from August 2019 onwards (Phase II intervention) by adding a second bay of meat-free products into the meat aisle, which was evaluated following the same analytical methods. During the Phase I intervention, sales of meat products (units/store/week) decreased in intervention (approximately -6%) and control stores (-5%) without significant differences (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.01 [95% CI 0.95-1.07]. Sales of meat-free products increased significantly more in the intervention (+31%) compared to the control stores (+6%; IRR 1.43 [95% CI 1.30-1.57]), mostly due to increased sales of meat-free burgers, mince, and sausages. Consistent results were observed in interrupted time series analyses where the effect of the Phase II intervention was significant in intervention versus control stores. CONCLUSIONS Prominent positioning of meat-free products into the meat aisle in a supermarket was not effective in reducing sales of meat products, but successfully increased sales of meat-free alternatives in the longer term. A preregistered protocol (https://osf.io/qmz3a/) was completed and fully available before data analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Piernas
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Brian Cook
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Stevens
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Stewart
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Hollowell
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Scarborough
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Susan A Jebb
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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31
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Sanders JG, Tosi A, Obradovic S, Miligi I, Delaney L. Lessons From the UK's Lockdown: Discourse on Behavioural Science in Times of COVID-19. Front Psychol 2021; 12:647348. [PMID: 34220617 PMCID: PMC8247580 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.647348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years behavioural science has quickly become embedded in national level governance. As the contributions of behavioural science to the UK's COVID-19 response policies in early 2020 became apparent, a debate emerged in the British media about its involvement. This served as a unique opportunity to capture public discourse and representation of behavioural science in a fast-track, high-stake context. We aimed at identifying elements which foster and detract from trust and credibility in emergent scientific contributions to policy making. With this in mind, in Study 1 we use corpus linguistics and network analysis to map the narrative around the key behavioural science actors and concepts which were discussed in the 647 news articles extracted from the 15 most read British newspapers over the 12-week period surrounding the first hard UK lockdown of 2020. We report and discuss (1) the salience of key concepts and actors as the debate unfolded, (2) quantified changes in the polarity of the sentiment expressed toward them and their policy application contexts, and (3) patterns of co-occurrence via network analyses. To establish public discourse surrounding identified themes, in Study 2 we investigate how salience and sentiment of key themes and relations to policy were discussed in original Twitter chatter (N = 2,187). In Study 3, we complement these findings with a qualitative analysis of the subset of news articles which contained the most extreme sentiments (N = 111), providing an in-depth perspective of sentiments and discourse developed around keywords, as either promoting or undermining their credibility in, and trust toward behaviourally informed policy. We discuss our findings in light of the integration of behavioural science in national policy making under emergency constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jet G Sanders
- Department of Psychological and Behavioural Sciences, London School of Economics and Political Sciences, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alessia Tosi
- Department of Psychological and Behavioural Sciences, London School of Economics and Political Sciences, London, United Kingdom.,Independent Researcher, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Obradovic
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The Open University, England, United Kingdom
| | - Ilaria Miligi
- Department of Psychological and Behavioural Sciences, London School of Economics and Political Sciences, London, United Kingdom
| | - Liam Delaney
- Department of Psychological and Behavioural Sciences, London School of Economics and Political Sciences, London, United Kingdom
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Determinants of Food Choice and Perceptions of Supermarket-Based Nudging Interventions among Adults with Low Socioeconomic Position: The SUPREME NUDGE Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18116175. [PMID: 34200437 PMCID: PMC8201246 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18116175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Nudging has received ample attention in scientific literature as an environmental strategy to promote healthy diets, and may be effective for reaching populations with low socioeconomic position (SEP). Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate how the determinants of food choice shape the perceptions regarding supermarket-based nudging strategies among adults with low SEP. We conducted semi-structured interviews among fifteen adults with low SEP using a pre-defined topic list and visual examples of nudges. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and content analysis was used to analyse the data. The results show that food costs, convenience, healthiness, taste, and habits were frequently mentioned as determinants of food choice. However, the relative importance of these determinants seemed to be context-dependent. Interviewees generally had a positive attitude towards nudges, especially when they were aligned with product preferences, information needs, and beliefs about the food environment. Still, some interviewees also expressed distrust towards nudging strategies, suspecting ulterior motives. We conclude that nudging strategies should target foods which align with product preferences and information needs. However, the suspicion of ulterior motives highlights an important concern which should be considered when implementing supermarket-based nudging strategies.
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Dhuria P, Lawrence W, Crozier S, Cooper C, Baird J, Vogel C. Women's perceptions of factors influencing their food shopping choices and how supermarkets can support them to make healthier choices. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1070. [PMID: 34090410 PMCID: PMC8178895 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11112-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine women's perceptions of factors that influence their food shopping choices, particularly in relation to store layout, and their views on ways that supermarkets could support healthier choices. DESIGN This qualitative cross-sectional study used semi-structured telephone interviews to ask participants the reasons for their choice of supermarket and factors in-store that prompted their food selections. The actions supermarkets, governments and customers could take to encourage healthier food choices were explored with women. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes. SETTING Six supermarkets across England. PARTICIPANTS Twenty women customers aged 18-45 years. RESULTS Participants had a median age of 39.5 years (IQR: 35.1, 42.3), a median weekly grocery spend of £70 (IQR: 50, 88), and 44% had left school aged 16 years. Women reported that achieving value for money, feeling hungry, tired, or stressed, and meeting family members' food preferences influenced their food shopping choices. The physical environment was important, including product quality and variety, plus ease of accessing the store or products in-store. Many participants described how they made unintended food selections as a result of prominent placement of unhealthy products in supermarkets, even if they adopted more conscious approaches to food shopping (i.e. written or mental lists). Participants described healthy eating as a personal responsibility, but some stated that governments and supermarkets could be more supportive. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted that in-store environments can undermine intentions to purchase and consume healthy foods. Creating healthier supermarket environments could reduce the burden of personal responsibility for healthy eating, by making healthier choices easier. Future research could explore the interplay of personal, societal and commercial responsibility for food choices and health status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Dhuria
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
| | - Wendy Lawrence
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Sarah Crozier
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Cyrus Cooper
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Janis Baird
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Christina Vogel
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
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Robinson E, Humphreys G, Jones A. Alcohol, calories, and obesity: A rapid systematic review and meta-analysis of consumer knowledge, support, and behavioral effects of energy labeling on alcoholic drinks. Obes Rev 2021; 22:e13198. [PMID: 33533133 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mandatory energy (calorie) labeling of alcoholic drinks is a public health measure that could be used to address both alcohol consumption and obesity. We systematically reviewed studies examining consumer knowledge of the energy content of alcoholic drinks, public support for energy labeling, and the effect of energy labeling of alcoholic drinks on consumption behavior. Eighteen studies were included. Among studies examining consumer knowledge of the energy content of alcoholic drinks (N = 8) and support for energy labeling (N = 9), there was moderate evidence that people are unaware of the energy content of alcoholic drinks (pooled estimate: 74% [95% CI: 64%-82%] of participants inaccurate) and support energy labeling (pooled estimate: 64% [95% CI: 53%-73%] of participants support policy). Six studies examined the effect of energy labeling on consumption behavior. In these studies, there was no evidence of a beneficial effect of labeling on alcohol drinking-related outcome measures. However, the majority of studies were of low methodological quality and used proxy outcome measures, and none of the studies were conducted in real-world settings, resulting in a very low level of evidence and high degree of uncertainty. Further research is required to determine whether energy labeling of alcoholic drinks is likely to be an effective public health policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Robinson
- Department of Psychology, Eleanor Rathbone Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Gabrielle Humphreys
- Department of Psychology, Eleanor Rathbone Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Andrew Jones
- Department of Psychology, Eleanor Rathbone Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Espinosa R, Nassar A. The Acceptability of Food Policies. Nutrients 2021; 13:1483. [PMID: 33924784 PMCID: PMC8145031 DOI: 10.3390/nu13051483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose and test a model of food policy acceptability. The model is structured in four levels: government, topic, policy, and individual. In this study, we focus on two levels that are actionable for policy-makers: the topic and policy levels. We assess nine factors using a first online survey with 600 UK nationals and replicate our results in a second survey with 588 participants. Our results suggest that three factors have a positive effect on acceptability at the topic level: awareness of the issue, the legitimacy of state intervention, and social norms. At the policy level, we report a positive effect of the policy's expected effectiveness, its appropriate targeting of consumers, and the perceived support of the majority. On the other hand, more coercive interventions and those generating inequalities are judged to be less acceptable. Additionally, we report an interaction between awareness and coerciveness on acceptability. Participants who are aware of the issue were more likely to support coercive policies. We also find evidence for a trade-off between coerciveness, effectiveness, and acceptability, as more coercive measures are considered more effective, but less acceptable by participants. Our findings offer policy-makers, nutrition experts, and advocates for healthier and more sustainable diets a new and integrated understanding of the underlying factors that determine food policy acceptability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anis Nassar
- Département d’Économie Politique, Université de Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland;
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Puigdueta I, Aguilera E, Cruz JL, Iglesias A, Sanz-Cobena A. Urban agriculture may change food consumption towards low carbon diets. GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Clarke N, Pechey E, Mantzari E, Blackwell AKM, De-Loyde K, Morris RW, Munafò MR, Marteau TM, Hollands GJ. Impact of health warning labels communicating the risk of cancer on alcohol selection: an online experimental study. Addiction 2021; 116:41-52. [PMID: 32267588 DOI: 10.1111/add.15072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Evidence from tobacco research suggests that health warning labels (HWLs) depicting the adverse consequences of consumption change smoking behaviours, with image-and-text (also known as 'pictorial' or 'graphic') HWLs most effective. There is an absence of evidence concerning the potential impact of HWLs placed on alcohol products on selection of those products. This study aimed to obtain a preliminary assessment of the possible impact of (i) image-and-text, (ii) text-only, and (iii) image-only HWLs on selection of alcoholic versus non-alcoholic drinks. DESIGN A between-subjects randomised experiment with a 2 (image: present versus absent) × 2 (text: present versus absent) factorial design. SETTING The study was conducted on the online survey platform Qualtrics. PARTICIPANTS Participants (n = 6024) were adults over the age of 18 who consumed beer or wine regularly (i.e. at least once a week), recruited through a market research agency. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomised to one of four groups varying in the HWL displayed on the packaging of alcoholic drinks: (i) image-and-text HWL; (ii) text-only HWL; (iii) image-only HWL; and (iv) no HWL. HWLs depicted bowel cancer, breast cancer and liver cancer, which were each displayed twice across six alcoholic drinks. Each group viewed six alcoholic and six non-alcoholic drinks and selected one drink that they would like to consume. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was the proportion of participants selecting an alcoholic versus a non-alcoholic drink. FINDINGS Alcoholic drink selection was lower for all HWL types compared with no HWL (image-and-text: 56%; image-only: 49%; text-only: 61%; no HWL: 77%), with selection lowest for HWLs that included an image. Image-and-text HWLs reduced the odds of selecting an alcoholic drink compared with text-only HWLs (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.69, 0.92), but increased the odds of selecting an alcoholic drink compared with image-only HWLs (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.16, 1.55). CONCLUSIONS Health warning labels communicating the increased risk of cancers associated with alcohol consumption reduced selection of alcoholic versus non-alcoholic drinks in a hypothetical choice task in an online setting; labels displaying images had the largest effect. Their impact in laboratory and real-world field settings using physical products awaits investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Clarke
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emily Pechey
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eleni Mantzari
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna K M Blackwell
- Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Katie De-Loyde
- Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Marcus R Munafò
- Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Theresa M Marteau
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gareth J Hollands
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Reynolds JP, Vasiljevic M, Pilling M, Marteau TM. Communicating evidence about the environment's role in obesity and support for government policies to tackle obesity: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Health Psychol Rev 2020; 16:67-80. [PMID: 33003986 PMCID: PMC8884254 DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2020.1829980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Public support for many policies that tackle obesity by changing environments is low. This may reflect commonly held causal beliefs about obesity, namely that it is due to failures of self-control rather than environmental influences. Several studies have sought to increase public support by changing these and similar causal beliefs, with mixed results. The current review is the first systematic synthesis of these studies. Searches of PsycInfo, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Open Grey yielded 20 eligible studies (N = 8977) from 11,776 abstracts. Eligible studies were controlled experiments with an intervention group that communicated information about the environment’s role in obesity, and a measure of support for environment-based obesity policies. The protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO. Meta-analyses showed no evidence that communicating information about the environment’s influence on obesity changed policy support or the belief that the environment influences obesity. A likely explanation for this null effect is the ineffectiveness of interventions that were designed to change the belief that the environment influences obesity. The possibility remains, however, that the association observed between beliefs about the causes of obesity and attitudes towards obesity policies is correlational and not causal.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Reynolds
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Milica Vasiljevic
- Department of Psychology, Upper Mountjoy, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Mark Pilling
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Theresa M Marteau
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Knowledge and acceptance of interventions aimed at reducing sugar intake in Portugal. Public Health Nutr 2020; 23:3423-3434. [PMID: 32924903 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980020002165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Governments worldwide have been implementing interventions aimed at improving citizens' dietary habits. Examining how individuals perceive these interventions is relevant for promoting future policies in this area, as well as informing the way they are designed and implemented. In the current study, we focused on interventions aimed at reducing sugar intake in Portugal, given the current high sugar consumption patterns in the population. DESIGN Online survey to assess which interventions are the most salient and receive greater public support. SETTING Portugal. PARTICIPANTS 1010 (76·7 % female, MAge 36·33, sd 13·22). RESULTS Data from a free-recall task showed that only about one-third of participants reported knowing about these interventions, namely those related to taxation, weight restrictions in individual sugar packets and limited availability of products with high sugar content. We also found evidence of high support for the eight interventions presented (except for replacing sugar by artificial sweeteners), positive attitudes towards the need of reducing sugar intake in the Portuguese population and high agreement with the importance of reducing sugar intake across all age groups, particularly among children. Participants also indicated paying attention to the amount of sugar in their diets and a low self-reported frequency of consumption of high sugary foods and beverages. A hierarchical regression analysis suggested that these variables were significantly associated with the overall acceptance of interventions, independently of social-demographic variables (i.e., age, education and sex). CONCLUSION By examining how people perceive and accept different interventions targeting the reduction of sugar intake, the current work aims to support policymaking in this domain.
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Reynolds JP, Vasiljevic M, Pilling M, Hall MG, Ribisl KM, Marteau TM. Communicating Evidence about the Causes of Obesity and Support for Obesity Policies: Two Population-Based Survey Experiments. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17186539. [PMID: 32911776 PMCID: PMC7559841 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Public support for numerous obesity policies is low, which is one barrier to their implementation. One reason for this low support is the tendency to ascribe obesity to failings of willpower as opposed to the environment. Correlational evidence supports this position. However, the experimental evidence is mixed. In two experimental studies, participants were randomised to receive no message, messages about the environment's influence on obesity (Study 1 & 2), or messages about the environment's influence on human behaviour (Study 1). We investigated whether communicating these messages changed support for obesity policies and beliefs about the causes of obesity. Participants were recruited from nationally representative samples in Great Britain (Study 1 & 2) and the USA (Study 2) (total n = 4391). Study 2 was designed to replicate existing research. Neither study found evidence that communicating the messages increased support for obesity policies or strengthened beliefs about the environment's role in obesity. Study 2, therefore, did not replicate two earlier experimental studies. Instead, the studies reported here suggest that people's beliefs about the causes of obesity are resistant to change in response to evidence and are, therefore, not a promising avenue to increase support for obesity policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. Reynolds
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK; (M.V.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence: (J.P.R.); (T.M.M.)
| | - Milica Vasiljevic
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK; (M.V.); (M.P.)
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Mark Pilling
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK; (M.V.); (M.P.)
| | - Marissa G. Hall
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (M.G.H.); (K.M.R.)
- Department of Health Behaviour, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 275599, USA
| | - Kurt M. Ribisl
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (M.G.H.); (K.M.R.)
- Department of Health Behaviour, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 275599, USA
| | - Theresa M. Marteau
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK; (M.V.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence: (J.P.R.); (T.M.M.)
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Hall MG, Grummon AH, Lazard AJ, Maynard OM, Taillie LS. Reactions to graphic and text health warnings for cigarettes, sugar-sweetened beverages, and alcohol: An online randomized experiment of US adults. Prev Med 2020; 137:106120. [PMID: 32437703 PMCID: PMC7713698 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to examine reactions to graphic versus text-only warnings for cigarettes, SSBs, and alcohol. A convenience sample of US adults completed an online survey in 2018 (n = 1352 in the analytic sample). We randomly assigned participants to view a: 1) text-only warning without efficacy information (i.e., message intended to increase consumers' confidence in their ability to stop using the product), 2) text-only warning with efficacy information, 3) graphic warning without efficacy information, or 4) graphic warning with efficacy information. Participants viewed their assigned warning on cigarettes, SSBs, and alcohol, in a random order. Across product types, graphic warnings were perceived as more effective than text-only warnings (p < .001) and led to lower believability, greater reactance (i.e., resistance), more thinking about harms, and lower product appeal (all p < .05); policy support did not differ. Compared to SSB and alcohol warnings, cigarette warnings led to higher perceived message effectiveness, believability, fear, thinking about harms, policy support, and greater reductions in product appeal (all p < .05). The efficacy information did not influence any outcomes. Graphic warnings out-performed text-only warnings on key predictors of behavior despite causing more reactance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Anna H Grummon
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, USA; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Allison J Lazard
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Olivia M Maynard
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU), University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Sharp CA, Bellis MA, Hughes K, Ford K, Di Lemma LCG. Public acceptability of public health policy to improve population health: A population-based survey. Health Expect 2020; 23:802-812. [PMID: 32329938 PMCID: PMC7495082 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For public health policies to be effective, it is critical that they are acceptable to the public as acceptance levels impact success rate. OBJECTIVE To explore public acceptance of public health statements and examine differences in acceptability across socio-demographics, health behaviours (physical activity, diet, binge drinking and smoking), health status and well-being. METHOD A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample (N = 1001) using a random stratified sampling method. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at homes of residents in Wales aged 16+ years. Individuals reported whether they agreed, had no opinion, or disagreed with 12 public health statements. RESULTS More than half of the sample were supportive of 10 out of 12 statements. The three statements with the greatest support (>80% agreement) reflected the importance of: a safe and loving childhood to becoming a healthy adult, schools teaching about health, and healthier foods costing less. Individuals who engaged in unhealthy behaviours were less likely to agree with some of the statements (eg 39.8% of binge drinkers agreed alcohol adverts should be banned compared to 57.6% of those who never binge drink; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Findings show an appetite for public health policies among the majority of the public. The relationship between supporting policies and engaging in healthy behaviours suggests a feedback loop that is potentially capable of shifting both public opinion and the opportunities for policy intervention. If a nation becomes healthier, this could illicit greater support for stronger policies which could encourage more people to move in a healthier direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A. Sharp
- Public Health Collaborating UnitSchool of Health SciencesBangor UniversityWrexhamUK
| | - Mark A. Bellis
- Public Health Collaborating UnitSchool of Health SciencesBangor UniversityWrexhamUK
- Policy and International Health DirectorateWorld Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well‐beingPublic Health WalesWrexhamUK
| | - Karen Hughes
- Public Health Collaborating UnitSchool of Health SciencesBangor UniversityWrexhamUK
- Policy and International Health DirectorateWorld Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well‐beingPublic Health WalesWrexhamUK
| | - Kat Ford
- Public Health Collaborating UnitSchool of Health SciencesBangor UniversityWrexhamUK
| | - Lisa C. G. Di Lemma
- Policy and International Health DirectorateWorld Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well‐beingPublic Health WalesWrexhamUK
- Faculty of Health and Social CareUniversity of ChesterChesterUK
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Pechey E, Clarke N, Mantzari E, Blackwell AKM, De-Loyde K, Morris RW, Marteau TM, Hollands GJ. Image-and-text health warning labels on alcohol and food: potential effectiveness and acceptability. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:376. [PMID: 32238154 PMCID: PMC7114781 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-8403-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health warning labels (HWLs) using images and text to depict the negative health consequences of tobacco consumption are effective and acceptable for changing smoking-related outcomes. There is currently limited evidence concerning their potential use for reducing consumption of alcoholic drinks and energy-dense foods. The aim of this research was to describe the potential effectiveness and acceptability of image-and-text (also known as pictorial or graphic) HWLs applied to: i. alcoholic drinks and ii. energy-dense snack foods. METHODS Two online studies were conducted using between-subjects designs with general population samples. Participants rated one of 21 image-and-text HWLs on alcoholic drinks (n = 5528), or one of 18 image-and-text HWLs on energy-dense snacks (n = 4618). HWLs comprised a graphic image with explanatory text, depicting, respectively, seven diseases linked to excess alcohol consumption, and six diseases linked to excess energy intake. Diseases included heart disease and various cancers. Outcomes were negative emotional arousal, desire to consume the labelled product, and acceptability of the label. Free-text comments relating to HWLs were content analysed. RESULTS For both alcoholic drinks and energy-dense snacks, HWLs depicting bowel cancer generated the highest levels of negative emotional arousal and lowest desire to consume the product, but were the least acceptable. Acceptability was generally low for HWLs applied to alcohol, with 3 of 21 rated as acceptable, and was generally high for snacks, with 13 of 18 rated as acceptable. The majority of free-text comments expressed negative reactions to HWLs on alcohol or energy-dense snacks. CONCLUSIONS Image-and-text health warning labels depicting bowel cancer showed greatest potential for reducing selection and consumption of alcoholic drinks and energy-dense snacks, although they were the least acceptable. Laboratory and field studies are needed to assess their impact on selection and consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Pechey
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Natasha Clarke
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Eleni Mantzari
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Anna K M Blackwell
- Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, University of Bristol, School of Psychological Science, Bristol, BS8 1TU, UK
| | - Katie De-Loyde
- Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, University of Bristol, School of Psychological Science, Bristol, BS8 1TU, UK
| | - Richard W Morris
- Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Theresa M Marteau
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Gareth J Hollands
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
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Jürkenbeck K, Zühlsdorf A, Spiller A. Nutrition Policy and Individual Struggle to Eat Healthily: The Question of Public Support. Nutrients 2020; 12:E516. [PMID: 32085503 PMCID: PMC7071418 DOI: 10.3390/nu12020516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The evidence for the effectiveness of nutrition policy interventions is growing. For the implementation of such interventions, social acceptability is crucial. Therefore, this study provides insight into public support for nutrition policy measures such as labelling and taxation. Further it analyses the level of acceptance in a quantitative segmentation approach. A new element to our approach is the comparison of different policy instruments, focusing on the interaction between policy acceptance and the perceived individual struggle to eat healthily. The survey was conducted in November 2017 and a total of 1035 German consumers are included in the data. The results indicate that the majority of German citizens accept nutrition policy interventions. Based on a cluster analysis, five different target groups according to the general acceptance of policy interventions and their own struggle to eat healthily are derived. The five-cluster solution reveals that both consumers who tend to eat a healthy diet as well as those who have problems with their diet support nutritional interventions. This shows that the perceived own struggle to eat healthily does not predict whether consumers accept nutrition policy interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Jürkenbeck
- Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Marketing of Food and Agricultural Products, University of Goettingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; (A.Z.); (A.S.)
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Bault N, Rusconi E. The Art of Influencing Consumer Choices: A Reflection on Recent Advances in Decision Neuroscience. Front Psychol 2020; 10:3009. [PMID: 32038387 PMCID: PMC6985540 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, our knowledge concerning the neurobiology of choice has increased tremendously. Research in the field of decision-making has identified important brain mechanisms by which a representation of the subjective value of an option is built based on previous experience, retrieved and compared to that of other available options in order to make a choice. One body of research, in particular, has focused on simple value-based choices (e.g., choices between two types of fruits) to study situations very similar to our daily life decisions as consumers. The use of neuroimaging techniques has deepened and refined our knowledge of decision processes. Additionally, computational approaches have helped identifying and describing the mechanisms underlying newly found components of the decisional process. They provide mechanistic explanations for diverse biases that can drive decision makers away from their own preferences or from rational choices. It is now clear that both attentional and affective factors can exert robust effects on an individual's decisions. Because these factors can be manipulated externally, academic research and theories are of great interest to the marketing industry. This approach is becoming increasingly effective in manipulating consumer behavior and has the potential to become even more effective in the future. Another line of research has revealed differences in the decision-making neural circuitry that underlie sub-optimal choice behavior, rendering some individuals particularly vulnerable to marketing strategies. As neuroscientists, we wonder whether relevant institutions should direct their efforts toward raising citizens' awareness, demanding more transparency on marketing applications and regulate the most pervasive communication techniques in marketing, in view of their current use and of recent research progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadège Bault
- School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom.,Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Elena Rusconi
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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Protecting consumers from fraudulent health claims: A taxonomy of psychological drivers, interventions, barriers, and treatments. Soc Sci Med 2020; 259:112790. [PMID: 32067757 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fraudulent health claims-false or misleading claims used to promote health remedies that are untested, ineffective, and often harmful-cause extensive and persistent harm to consumers. To address this problem, novel interventions are needed that address the underlying cognitive mechanisms that render consumers susceptible to fraudulent health claims. However, there is currently no single framework of relevant psychological insights to design interventions for this purpose. The current review aims to address this gap. METHOD An integrative theoretical review was conducted across several relevant disciplines including criminology; behavioural economics; and cognitive, health, and social psychology. RESULTS The current review presents a novel taxonomy that aims to serve as an agenda for future research to systematically design and compare interventions based on empirical evidence. Specifically, this taxonomy identifies (i) the psychological drivers that make consumers susceptible to fraudulent health claims, (ii) the psychological barriers that may prevent successful application of interventions, and (iii) proposes evidence-informed treatments to overcome those barriers. CONCLUSIONS The resulting framework integrates behavioural insights from several hitherto distinct disciplines and structures promising interventions according to five underlying psychological drivers: Visceral influence, Affect, Nescience, Misinformation, and Norms (VANMaN). The taxonomy presents an integrative and accessible theoretical framework for designing evidence-informed interventions to protect consumers from fraudulent health claims. This review has broad implications for numerous topical issues including the design and evaluation of anti-fraud campaigns, efforts to address the growing problem of health-related misinformation, and for countering the polarisation of politically sensitive health issues.
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Goyder E, Blank L, Baxter S, van Schalkwyk MC. Tackling gambling related harms as a public health issue. LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 5:e14-e15. [PMID: 31831371 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(19)30243-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Goyder
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.
| | - Lindsay Blank
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK
| | - Susan Baxter
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK
| | - May Ci van Schalkwyk
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Hollands GJ, Carter P, Anwer S, King SE, Jebb SA, Ogilvie D, Shemilt I, Higgins JPT, Marteau TM. Altering the availability or proximity of food, alcohol, and tobacco products to change their selection and consumption. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019; 9:CD012573. [PMID: 31482606 PMCID: PMC6953356 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012573.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overconsumption of food, alcohol, and tobacco products increases the risk of non-communicable diseases. Interventions to change characteristics of physical micro-environments where people may select or consume these products - including shops, restaurants, workplaces, and schools - are of considerable public health policy and research interest. This review addresses two types of intervention within such environments: altering the availability (the range and/or amount of options) of these products, or their proximity (the distance at which they are positioned) to potential consumers. OBJECTIVES 1. To assess the impact on selection and consumption of altering the availability or proximity of (a) food (including non-alcoholic beverages), (b) alcohol, and (c) tobacco products.2. To assess the extent to which the impact of these interventions is modified by characteristics of: i. studies, ii. interventions, and iii. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and seven other published or grey literature databases, as well as trial registries and key websites, up to 23 July 2018, followed by citation searches. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials with between-participants (parallel group) or within-participants (cross-over) designs. Eligible studies compared effects of exposure to at least two different levels of availability of a product or its proximity, and included a measure of selection or consumption of the manipulated product. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used a novel semi-automated screening workflow and applied standard Cochrane methods to select eligible studies, collect data, and assess risk of bias. In separate analyses for availability interventions and proximity interventions, we combined results using random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression models to estimate summary effect sizes (as standardised mean differences (SMDs)) and to investigate associations between summary effect sizes and selected study, intervention, or participant characteristics. We rated the certainty of evidence for each outcome using GRADE. MAIN RESULTS We included 24 studies, with the majority (20/24) giving concerns about risk of bias. All of the included studies investigated food products; none investigated alcohol or tobacco. The majority were conducted in laboratory settings (14/24), with adult participants (17/24), and used between-participants designs (19/24). All studies were conducted in high-income countries, predominantly in the USA (14/24).Six studies investigated availability interventions, of which two changed the absolute number of different options available, and four altered the relative proportion of less-healthy (to healthier) options. Most studies (4/6) manipulated snack foods or drinks. For selection outcomes, meta-analysis of three comparisons from three studies (n = 154) found that exposure to fewer options resulted in a large reduction in selection of the targeted food(s): SMD -1.13 (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.90 to -0.37) (low certainty evidence). For consumption outcomes, meta-analysis of three comparisons from two studies (n = 150) found that exposure to fewer options resulted in a moderate reduction in consumption of those foods, but with considerable uncertainty: SMD -0.55 (95% CI -1.27 to 0.18) (low certainty evidence).Eighteen studies investigated proximity interventions. Most (14/18) changed the distance at which a snack food or drink was placed from the participants, whilst four studies changed the order of meal components encountered along a line. For selection outcomes, only one study with one comparison (n = 41) was identified, which found that food placed farther away resulted in a moderate reduction in its selection: SMD -0.65 (95% CI -1.29 to -0.01) (very low certainty evidence). For consumption outcomes, meta-analysis of 15 comparisons from 12 studies (n = 1098) found that exposure to food placed farther away resulted in a moderate reduction in its consumption: SMD -0.60 (95% CI -0.84 to -0.36) (low certainty evidence). Meta-regression analyses indicated that this effect was greater: the farther away the product was placed; when only the targeted product(s) was available; when participants were of low deprivation status; and when the study was at high risk of bias. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The current evidence suggests that changing the number of available food options or altering the positioning of foods could contribute to meaningful changes in behaviour, justifying policy actions to promote such changes within food environments. However, the certainty of this evidence as assessed by GRADE is low or very low. To enable more certain and generalisable conclusions about these potentially important effects, further research is warranted in real-world settings, intervening across a wider range of foods - as well as alcohol and tobacco products - and over sustained time periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth J Hollands
- University of CambridgeBehaviour and Health Research UnitForvie SiteRobinson WayCambridgeUKCB2 0SR
| | - Patrice Carter
- University College LondonCentre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness1‐19 Torrington PlaceLondonUKWC1E 7HB
| | - Sumayya Anwer
- University of BristolPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolCanynge Hall, 39 Whatley RoadBristolUKBS8 2PS
| | - Sarah E King
- University of CambridgeBehaviour and Health Research UnitForvie SiteRobinson WayCambridgeUKCB2 0SR
| | - Susan A Jebb
- University of OxfordNuffield Department of Primary Care Health SciencesRadcliffe Observatory QuarterWoodstock RoadOxfordOxfordshireUKOX2 6GG
| | - David Ogilvie
- University of CambridgeMRC Epidemiology UnitBox 285Cambridge Biomedical CampusCambridgeUKCB2 0QQ
| | - Ian Shemilt
- University College LondonEPPI‐Centre10 Woburn SquareLondonUKWC1H 0NR
| | - Julian P T Higgins
- University of BristolPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolCanynge Hall, 39 Whatley RoadBristolUKBS8 2PS
| | - Theresa M Marteau
- University of CambridgeBehaviour and Health Research UnitForvie SiteRobinson WayCambridgeUKCB2 0SR
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Hollands GJ, Carter P, Anwer S, King SE, Jebb SA, Ogilvie D, Shemilt I, Higgins JPT, Marteau TM. Altering the availability or proximity of food, alcohol, and tobacco products to change their selection and consumption. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019; 8:CD012573. [PMID: 31452193 PMCID: PMC6710643 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012573.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overconsumption of food, alcohol, and tobacco products increases the risk of non-communicable diseases. Interventions to change characteristics of physical micro-environments where people may select or consume these products - including shops, restaurants, workplaces, and schools - are of considerable public health policy and research interest. This review addresses two types of intervention within such environments: altering the availability (the range and/or amount of options) of these products, or their proximity (the distance at which they are positioned) to potential consumers. OBJECTIVES 1. To assess the impact on selection and consumption of altering the availability or proximity of (a) food (including non-alcoholic beverages), (b) alcohol, and (c) tobacco products.2. To assess the extent to which the impact of these interventions is modified by characteristics of: i. studies, ii. interventions, and iii. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and seven other published or grey literature databases, as well as trial registries and key websites, up to 23 July 2018, followed by citation searches. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials with between-participants (parallel group) or within-participants (cross-over) designs. Eligible studies compared effects of exposure to at least two different levels of availability of a product or its proximity, and included a measure of selection or consumption of the manipulated product. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used a novel semi-automated screening workflow and applied standard Cochrane methods to select eligible studies, collect data, and assess risk of bias. In separate analyses for availability interventions and proximity interventions, we combined results using random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression models to estimate summary effect sizes (as standardised mean differences (SMDs)) and to investigate associations between summary effect sizes and selected study, intervention, or participant characteristics. We rated the certainty of evidence for each outcome using GRADE. MAIN RESULTS We included 24 studies, with the majority (20/24) giving concerns about risk of bias. All of the included studies investigated food products; none investigated alcohol or tobacco. The majority were conducted in laboratory settings (14/24), with adult participants (17/24), and used between-participants designs (19/24). All studies were conducted in high-income countries, predominantly in the USA (14/24).Six studies investigated availability interventions, of which two changed the absolute number of different options available, and four altered the relative proportion of less-healthy (to healthier) options. Most studies (4/6) manipulated snack foods or drinks. For selection outcomes, meta-analysis of three comparisons from three studies (n = 154) found that exposure to fewer options resulted in a large reduction in selection of the targeted food(s): SMD -1.13 (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.90 to -0.37) (low certainty evidence). For consumption outcomes, meta-analysis of three comparisons from two studies (n = 150) found that exposure to fewer options resulted in a moderate reduction in consumption of those foods, but with considerable uncertainty: SMD -0.55 (95% CI -1.27 to 0.18) (low certainty evidence).Eighteen studies investigated proximity interventions. Most (14/18) changed the distance at which a snack food or drink was placed from the participants, whilst four studies changed the order of meal components encountered along a line. For selection outcomes, only one study with one comparison (n = 41) was identified, which found that food placed farther away resulted in a moderate reduction in its selection: SMD -0.65 (95% CI -1.29 to -0.01) (very low certainty evidence). For consumption outcomes, meta-analysis of 15 comparisons from 12 studies (n = 1098) found that exposure to food placed farther away resulted in a moderate reduction in its consumption: SMD -0.60 (95% CI -0.84 to -0.36) (low certainty evidence). Meta-regression analyses indicated that this effect was greater: the farther away the product was placed; when only the targeted product(s) was available; when participants were of low deprivation status; and when the study was at high risk of bias. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The current evidence suggests that changing the number of available food options or altering the positioning of foods could contribute to meaningful changes in behaviour, justifying policy actions to promote such changes within food environments. However, the certainty of this evidence as assessed by GRADE is low or very low. To enable more certain and generalisable conclusions about these potentially important effects, further research is warranted in real-world settings, intervening across a wider range of foods - as well as alcohol and tobacco products - and over sustained time periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth J Hollands
- University of CambridgeBehaviour and Health Research UnitForvie SiteRobinson WayCambridgeUKCB2 0SR
| | - Patrice Carter
- University College LondonCentre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness1‐19 Torrington PlaceLondonUKWC1E 7HB
| | - Sumayya Anwer
- University of BristolPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolCanynge Hall, 39 Whatley RoadBristolUKBS8 2PS
| | - Sarah E King
- University of CambridgeBehaviour and Health Research UnitForvie SiteRobinson WayCambridgeUKCB2 0SR
| | - Susan A Jebb
- University of OxfordNuffield Department of Primary Care Health SciencesRadcliffe Observatory QuarterWoodstock RoadOxfordUKOX2 6GG
| | - David Ogilvie
- University of CambridgeMRC Epidemiology UnitBox 285Cambridge Biomedical CampusCambridgeUKCB2 0QQ
| | - Ian Shemilt
- University College LondonEPPI‐Centre10 Woburn SquareLondonUKWC1H 0NR
| | - Julian P T Higgins
- University of BristolPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolCanynge Hall, 39 Whatley RoadBristolUKBS8 2PS
| | - Theresa M Marteau
- University of CambridgeBehaviour and Health Research UnitForvie SiteRobinson WayCambridgeUKCB2 0SR
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