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Jindarattanaporn N, Kelly B, Punpuing S, Phulkerd S. Development of a questionnaire for assessing the impact of children's food marketing exposure on diet-related outcomes. BMJ Nutr Prev Health 2024; 7:174-182. [PMID: 38966107 PMCID: PMC11221310 DOI: 10.1136/bmjnph-2024-000912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Government of Thailand has drafted legislation to protect children from the harmful impact of unhealthy food (including beverages) marketing. Local evidence on Thai children's exposure to, and the impact of, this marketing is necessary to, first, support the adoption of this Law and, second, to contribute to assessing policy implementation and effectiveness. This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire for examining Thai children's exposure to unhealthy food marketing and its impact on diet-related outcomes. Materials and methods To design the questionnaire, we first conceptualised the range of impacts of unhealthy food marketing on children's diet-related outcomes based on published frameworks. These outcomes related to food brand loyalty, preference, purchase and consumption. We conducted a literature review to gather related questions used in earlier surveys to assess these outcomes. Using these questions, we assessed content validity with five experts. Face validity and reliability were assessed for 32 children. Validity was assessed using Content Validity Index (CVI) and Kappa statistics. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results We identified 15 survey questions that had been used to assess the outcomes of interest. The CVI of all questions was 1.0, indicating perfect agreement with each question's relevance by the experts. Most questions were perceived to be easy to read and comprehend, suggesting face validity. Cronbach's alpha and ICC of all questions were both 0.75, demonstrating internal consistency across responses to questions about, separately, brand loyalty, preferences, purchase and consumption. Conclusion The final 15-item questionnaire provides a valid and reliable survey instrument for measuring the impact of unhealthy food marketing on children's diet-related outcomes. This instrument will be useful for gathering local evidence on the need for policy reform to protect children from unhealthy food marketing in Thailand. The instrument also provides a cost-effective approach for generating evidence in other jurisdictions to propel policy actions. This is a pilot study and the validity and reliability needs further testing after a larger-scale roll-out.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bridget Kelly
- Early Start, School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sureeporn Punpuing
- Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Sirinya Phulkerd
- Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
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Varela P, De Rosso S, Ferreira Moura A, Galler M, Philippe K, Pickard A, Rageliene T, Sick J, van Nee R, Almli VL, Ares G, Grønhøj A, Spinelli S, van Kleef E. Bringing down barriers to children's healthy eating: a critical review of opportunities, within a complex food system. Nutr Res Rev 2023:1-21. [PMID: 37746804 DOI: 10.1017/s0954422423000203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
This narrative review revises the scientific evidence of recent years on healthy eating in children and adolescents, making sense of promising avenues of action, from a food system perspective. A conceptual framework is provided to better understand how eating habits of children and adolescents are shaped to identify key multisectoral approaches that should be implemented to promote healthier diets. The following influencing factors are discussed: individual factors (physiological and psychological factors, food preferences and food literacy competencies), factors within the personal and socio-cultural food environments, external food environments, and the supply chain. In each section, the main barriers to healthy eating are briefly discussed focussing on how to overcome them. Finally, a discussion with recommendations of actions is provided, anchored in scientific knowledge, and transferable to the general public, industry, and policymakers. We highlight that multidisciplinary approaches are not enough, a systems approach, with a truly holistic view, is needed. Apart from introducing systemic changes, a variety of interventions can be implemented at different levels to foster healthier diets in children through fostering healthier and more sustainable food environments, facilitating pleasurable sensory experiences, increasing their food literacy, and enhancing their agency by empowering them to make better food related decisions. Acknowledging children as unique individuals is required, through interpersonal interactions, as well as their role in their environments. Actions should aim to enable children and adolescents as active participants within sustainable food systems, to support healthier dietary behaviours that can be sustained throughout life, impacting health at a societal level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sofia De Rosso
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | | | | | - Kaat Philippe
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | | | | | - Julia Sick
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roselinde van Nee
- Wageningen University, Marketing & Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gastón Ares
- Sensometrics and Consumer Science, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Sara Spinelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ellen van Kleef
- Wageningen University, Marketing & Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Kelly B, Backholer K, Boyland E, Kent MP, Bragg MA, Karupaiah T, Ng S. Contemporary Approaches for Monitoring Food Marketing to Children to Progress Policy Actions. Curr Nutr Rep 2023; 12:14-25. [PMID: 36746878 PMCID: PMC9974707 DOI: 10.1007/s13668-023-00450-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Protecting children from unhealthful food marketing is a global priority policy for improving population diets. Monitoring the nature and extent of children's exposure to this marketing is critical in policy development and implementation. This review summarises contemporary approaches to monitor the nature and extent of food marketing to support policy reform. RECENT FINDINGS Monitoring approaches vary depending on the stage of progress of related policy implementation, with resource implications and opportunity costs. Considerations include priority media/settings. marketing techniques assessed, approach to classifying foods, study design and if exposure assessments are based on media content analyses or are estimated or observed based on children's media use. Current evidence is largely limited to high-income countries and focuses on content analyses of TV advertising. Ongoing efforts are needed to support monitoring in low-resource settings and to progress monitoring to better capture children's actual exposures across media and settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget Kelly
- Early Start, School of Health & Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Emma Boyland
- Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Monique Potvin Kent
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Marie A Bragg
- Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tilakavati Karupaiah
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - SeeHoe Ng
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
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Matos JDP, Rodrigues MB, Duarte CK, Horta PM. A Scoping Review of Observational Studies on Food and Beverage Advertising on Social Media: A Public Health Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3615. [PMID: 36834312 PMCID: PMC9960697 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Popular social media platforms have been actively used by ultra-processed food companies to promote their products. Being exposed to this type of advertising increases the consumption of unhealthy foods and the risk of developing obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Thus, monitoring commercial content on social media is a core public health practice. We aimed to characterize the methods used for monitoring food advertising on social media and summarize the investigated advertising strategies via a scoping review of observational studies. This study is reported according to the MOOSE Statement, and its protocol was registered with the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (registration nº. CRD42020187740). Out of the 6093 citations retrieved, 26 met our eligibility criteria. The studies were published from 2014 to 2021, mostly after 2018. They focused on Australia, Facebook, strategies aimed at children and adolescents, and advertising practices of ultra-processed food companies. We grouped strategies in eight classes: post features (n = 18); connectivity and engagement (n = 18); economic advantages, gifts, or competitions (n = 14); claims (n = 14); promotional characters (n = 12); brand in evidence (n = 8); corporate social responsibility or philanthropy (n = 7); and COVID-19 (n = 3). We found similarities in the investigation of strategies regardless of the type of social media. Our findings can contribute to the designing of tools for monitoring studies and regulatory mechanisms to restrict the exposure of food advertising.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paula Martins Horta
- Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil
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5
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Rajatanavin N, Witthayapipopsakul W, Vongmongkol V, Saengruang N, Wanwong Y, Marshall AI, Patcharanarumol W, Tangcharoensathien V. Effective coverage of diabetes and hypertension: an analysis of Thailand's national insurance database 2016-2019. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e066289. [PMID: 36456029 PMCID: PMC9716924 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066289] [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] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study assesses effective coverage of diabetes and hypertension in Thailand during 2016-2019. DESIGN Mixed method, analysis of National health insurance database 2016-2019 and in-depth interviews. SETTING Beneficiaries of Universal Coverage Scheme residing outside Bangkok. PARTICIPANTS Quantitative analysis was performed by acquiring individual patient data of diabetes and hypertension cases in the Universal Coverage Scheme residing outside bangkok in 2016-2019. Qualitative analysis was conducted by in-depth interview of 85 multi-stakeholder key informants to identify challenges. OUTCOMES Estimate three indicators: detected need (diagnosed/total estimated cases), crude coverage (received health services/total estimated cases) and effective coverage (controlled/total estimated cases) were compared. Controlled diabetes was defined as haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) below 7% and controlled hypertension as blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg. RESULTS Estimated cases were 3.1-3.2 million for diabetes and 8.7-9.2 million for hypertension. For diabetes, all indicators have shown slow improvement between 2016 and 2019 (67.4%, 69.9%, 71.9% and 74.7% for detected need; 38.7%, 43.1%, 45.1% and 49.8% for crude coverage and 8.1%, 10.5%, 11.8% and 11.7% for effective coverage). For hypertension, the performance was poorer for detection (48.9%, 50.3%, 51.8% and 53.3%) and crude coverage (22.3%, 24.7%, 26.5% and 29.2%) but was better for effective coverage (11.3%, 13.2%, 15.1% and 15.7%) than diabetes. Results were better for the women and older age groups in both diseases. Complex interplays between supply and demand side were a key challenge. Database challenges also hamper regular assessment of effective coverage. Sensitivity analysis when using at least three annual visits shows slight improvement of effective coverage. CONCLUSION Effective coverage was low for both diseases, though improving in 2016-2019, especially among men and ัyounger populations. The increasing rate of effective coverage was significantly smaller than crude coverage. Health information systems limitation is a major barrier to comprehensive measurement. To maximise effective coverage, long-term actions should address primary prevention of non-communicable disease risk factors, while short-term actions focus on improving Chronic Care Model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nithiwat Saengruang
- Health Financing, International Health Policy Program, Muang District, Thailand
| | - Yaowaluk Wanwong
- Health Financing, International Health Policy Program, Muang District, Thailand
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Matos JDP, Rodrigues MB, Vandevijvere S, Claro RM, Horta PM. Global case study of digital marketing on social media by a top soda brand. Health Promot Int 2022; 37:6722723. [PMID: 36166269 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daac133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Big Soda segment is central in modern food systems, and they invest heavily in digital marketing, but little is known about it. We aimed to analyze the digital marketing on Facebook of the soda brand with a major worldwide reach. Countries were described in terms of soda brand presence and popularity on Facebook according to countries' socio-demographic index (SDI) and the market share of soda brand (%MS). From 149 countries, 57.0% had soda brand's Facebook page among the top five in the number of followers within the beverage segment. Among them, digital marketing was described by the number of the page followers, the number of posts, and the number of interactions (likes, comments and shares) that each post received by Facebook users. Also, we analyzed the characteristics, and the use of marketing strategies on posts in a random sample of 10% (n = 1217) of all posts. We found that soda brand's popularity on Facebook was higher among countries with higher SDI and higher %MS. Also, the number of users that engaged with soda brand's posts was higher among countries with lower SDI and higher brand's %MS. The brand's posts focus on young adults, display of brand's products and glorification of its attributes. Other identified features include sport-related thematic and appeals to socialization and healthy eating. In addition, posts' characteristics differed with countries' characteristics. Soda brand digital marketing varies according to countries' characterization and maintains the brand position on the global marketing of beverages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rafael Moreira Claro
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Paula Martins Horta
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Winzer E, Naderer B, Klein S, Lercher L, Wakolbinger M. Promotion of Food and Beverages by German-Speaking Influencers Popular with Adolescents on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191710911. [PMID: 36078625 PMCID: PMC9518047 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The promotion of nutritionally poor food and beverages (F&B) has a proven effect on children's eating preferences and, therefore, plays a significant role in today's childhood obesity epidemic. This study's objective was to assess the prevalence (exposure) and context (power) of the F&B cues in influencer content across three platforms: TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. The selected influencers were popular with adolescents, with a combined total of more than 34 million followers/subscribers. We employed the YouTube Influencer Marketing Protocol from the World Health Organization (WHO) as our basis for coding. We analysed a total of 360 videos/posts and, of these, 24% contained F&B cues, which is equivalent to 18.1 F&B cues/hour. In total, 77% of the cues were not permitted for children's advertising, according to WHO criteria, and this was stable across all platforms, with chocolate and sugary confectionery (23%) as the most frequently featured products. Not-permitted F&B had a four-times higher chance of being branded, a five-times higher chance of being described positively, and received significantly more 'likes'. In 62% of the analysed presentations, the branded product was mentioned, yet only 6% of the content was labelled as advertising. The present analysis delivers further grounds for discussion for policies and regulations of influencer marketing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Winzer
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Brigitte Naderer
- Department of Media & Communication, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Simeon Klein
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Leah Lercher
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Wakolbinger
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Erzse A, Karim SA, Foley L, Hofman KJ. A realist review of voluntary actions by the food and beverage industry and implications for public health and policy in low- and middle-income countries. NATURE FOOD 2022; 3:650-663. [PMID: 37118592 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00552-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
The increasing availability of unhealthy processed food products is linked to rising rates of non-communicable diseases and obesity in low- and middle-income countries. Voluntary actions (VAs) are often adopted in lieu of regulating the composition, production, marketing and sale of unhealthy commodities, but their effectiveness is unclear. This realist review examines VAs adopted by the food and beverage industry in low- and middle-income countries. We developed a conceptual framework and followed a three-stage search to identify literature and VAs and, adhering to the Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards (RAMESES) guidelines, we produced a synthesized analysis of VAs. VAs, often initiated in response to governments' efforts to introduce regulations, were difficult to evaluate due to vague language and a lack of enforcement mechanisms. The review found no evidence indicating that VAs are effective in safeguarding public health. Yet their implementation has resulted in weaker responses and policy substitution, and so we suggest that VAs have the potential to negatively influence public health and policy. The United Nations should rescind their endorsement of industry involvement and mandatory measures should be favoured over VAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Erzse
- SAMRC/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, University of Witwatersrand School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Safura Abdool Karim
- SAMRC/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, University of Witwatersrand School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Louise Foley
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Karen Joanne Hofman
- SAMRC/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, University of Witwatersrand School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Methodologies for Monitoring the Digital Marketing of Foods and Beverages Aimed at Infants, Children, and Adolescents (ICA): A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19158951. [PMID: 35897321 PMCID: PMC9330739 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19158951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
While television has been the most widely used medium for food and beverage marketing, companies are shifting in favor of digital media. The ubiquitous digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes (BMS) and foods and beverages high in saturated fat, salt, and/or free sugars (FBHFSS) has been considered a powerful environmental determinant of inadequate dietary practices during infancy, childhood, and adolescence. The scoping review’s aim was to systematically identify and map the types of methodologies available to monitor the digital marketing of foods and beverages targeting infants, children, and adolescents (ICA) worldwide. Research evidence published from 2011 to October 2021 was examined using search strategies including multiple databases and citation tracking. A total of 420 sources were evaluated, and 28 studies from 81 countries meeting the inclusion criteria were retained. Most of the studies (n = 24) documenting methodologies to monitor inappropriate digital marketing were published since 2015 and were primarily aimed at identifying the promotional techniques and nutritional content of FBHFSS targeting adolescents (n = 13). It is paramount to develop a feasible and scalable monitoring system to develop effective policies to protect parents and ICA from BMS and FBHSFF digital marketing.
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Ares G, Antúnez L, de León C, Alcaire F, Vidal L, Natero V, Otterbring T. 'Even if you don't pay attention to it, you know it's there': A qualitative exploration of adolescents' experiences with digital food marketing. Appetite 2022; 176:106128. [PMID: 35718311 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to digital food marketing. However, research on adolescents' recall, awareness, and opinions of this type of marketing is still scarce. Accordingly, the present study aimed to conduct an in-depth examination of adolescents' experiences with digital food marketing. A convenience sample of 209 adolescents was recruited at two private educational institutions and a public health facility in Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay. Semi-structured group interviews were conducted, recorded in audio and transcribed. The transcripts were analyzed using content analysis based on a deductive-inductive approach. Results showed that participants were highly exposed to digital food marketing, as they all remembered having seen advertisements, with those of fast-food restaurants and food-ordering apps being the most frequently mentioned. According to the adolescents' accounts, images, colors, music, oversized portions, product novelty, price promotions and celebrities were the most memorable aspects of food advertisements. Participants recognized the effect of advertisements on product awareness and wanting, and, to a lesser extent, on actual purchase and consumption behavior. Factors that were thought to mediate the impact of digital marketing on food choice were also identified. In the final part of the interviews, participants proposed strategies to reduce the effect of digital marketing on their food choices, which included both regulatory approaches to reduce exposure to digital marketing of unhealthy foods and behavior change communication. Together, the current findings provide insights for the development of multifaceted strategies to reduce the effects of digital food marketing on the eating habits of adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gastón Ares
- Sensometrics & Consumer Science, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, By Pass de Rutas 8 y 101 s/n. CP 91000. Pando, Canelones, Uruguay.
| | - Lucía Antúnez
- Sensometrics & Consumer Science, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, By Pass de Rutas 8 y 101 s/n. CP 91000. Pando, Canelones, Uruguay
| | | | - Florencia Alcaire
- Sensometrics & Consumer Science, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, By Pass de Rutas 8 y 101 s/n. CP 91000. Pando, Canelones, Uruguay
| | - Leticia Vidal
- Sensometrics & Consumer Science, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, By Pass de Rutas 8 y 101 s/n. CP 91000. Pando, Canelones, Uruguay
| | - Virginia Natero
- Departamento de Alimentos, Escuela de Nutrición, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Tobias Otterbring
- School of Business and Law, Department of Management, University of Agder, Universitetsveien 17, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway; Institute of Retail Economics, Regeringsgatan 60, 103 29, Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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da Silva JM, Matos JDP, Rodrigues MB, Mais LA, Claro RM, Horta PM. Advertising patterns of a fast-food chain on social media in Brazil. Public Health Nutr 2021; 25:1-8. [PMID: 34937603 PMCID: PMC9991549 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021004973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the advertising patterns on the posts of a fast-food chain in Brazil on three social media platforms in 2019. DESIGN An exploratory cross-sectional study. SETTING Advertising strategies on the posts of a major fast-food chain on their official Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts. The strategies were investigated according to the INFORMAS protocol for food promotion monitoring. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to identify advertising patterns in each platform. PARTICIPANTS 305 advertisements. RESULTS Four advertising patterns were identified in the PCA of Facebook and Instagram. In both platforms, the components for kids and product exaltation were similar. On Facebook, a pattern corresponding to economic appeal was identified as price and discount, while on Instagram, this pattern also included a practical approach. On Facebook, the fourth component was named celebrity, while on Instagram it was celebrity/innovation since on this second social media the component also included the 'new brand development' variable. On YouTube, three advertising patterns were identified in PCA. Similar to the other platforms, the first and the second patterns were called for kids and price and discount, and the third component referred to both celebrity and commemorative dates. CONCLUSIONS The advertising patterns of the fast-food chain on three social media platforms were commonly directed to children and addressed price, discounts and the celebrities' universe. The findings of this study corroborate other data in the literature regarding unhealthy food advertising on social media. This study discusses the urgency of regulating food advertising content on this medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Moreira da Silva
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Avenida Professor Alfredo Balena 190, Belo Horizonte30130-100, Brazil
| | - Juliana de Paula Matos
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Avenida Professor Alfredo Balena 190, Belo Horizonte30130-100, Brazil
| | - Michele Bittencourt Rodrigues
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Avenida Professor Alfredo Balena 190, Belo Horizonte30130-100, Brazil
| | - Laís Amaral Mais
- Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor (IDEC), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael Moreira Claro
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Avenida Professor Alfredo Balena 190, Belo Horizonte30130-100, Brazil
| | - Paula Martins Horta
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Avenida Professor Alfredo Balena 190, Belo Horizonte30130-100, Brazil
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Rozas L, Castronuovo L, Busse P, Mus S, Barnoya J, Garrón A, Tiscornia MV, Guanieri L. Data on the Facebook marketing strategies used by fast-food chains in four Latin American countries during the COVID-19 lockdowns. BMC Res Notes 2021; 14:463. [PMID: 34930460 PMCID: PMC8686095 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-021-05870-8] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES During the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries implemented lockdowns that motivated changes in the dietary patterns, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) of consumers worldwide, as well as the emergence of new food marketing strategies in social media. We sought to design and validate a methodology for monitoring and evaluating the Facebook marketing strategies of multinational fast-food chains in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. DATA DESCRIPTION We developed three datasets. First, a dataset with the Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) of 1015 Facebook posts of five fast-food chains present in Argentina, Bolivia, Guatemala, and Peru. Second, a dataset of 106 content-analyzed posts we used in a pilot to determine intercoder reliability using statistical tests. Third, a dataset of a final sample of the 1015 content-analyzed posts that we used to determine the variables most frequently used. Following a mixed-methods approach, we developed 29 variables that recorded general information, as well as the marketing strategies we identified in the posts, including 14 COVID-19 specific variables. These data should help to monitor the social media marketing strategies that fast-food chains have introduced during the COVID-19 lockdowns, thus providing initial evidence about how they could be contributing to an unhealthy food environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucila Rozas
- Instituto de Investigación Científica, Grupo de Investigación en Comunicación y Salud, Universidad de Lima, 4600 Javier Prado Este Avenue, Tower A, 11th Floor, 15023 Lima, Peru
| | - Luciana Castronuovo
- Fundación Interamericana del Corazón Argentina (FIC-Argentina), Arévalo 2364—1 A, C1425DBR Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Peter Busse
- Instituto de Investigación Científica, Grupo de Investigación en Comunicación y Salud, Carrera de Comunicación, Universidad de Lima, 4600 Javier Prado Este Avenue, Tower A, 11th Floor, 15023 Lima, Peru
| | - Sophia Mus
- Departamento de Investigación, Unidad de Cirugía Cardiovascular de Guatemala, 9a Av 8-00 zona 11, Ciudad de Guatemala, 01011 Guatemala
| | - Joaquín Barnoya
- Departamento de Investigación, Unidad de Cirugía Cardiovascular de Guatemala, 9a Av 8-00 zona 11, Ciudad de Guatemala, 01011 Guatemala
| | - Alejandra Garrón
- Fundación Interamericana del Corazón—Bolivia, Mariscal Santa Cruz Avenue, La Primera Building, Tower B, 10th Floor, Office No. 7, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - María Victoria Tiscornia
- Fundación Interamericana del Corazón Argentina (FIC-Argentina), Arévalo 2364—1 A, C1425DBR Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leila Guanieri
- Fundación Interamericana del Corazón Argentina (FIC-Argentina), Arévalo 2364—1 A, C1425DBR Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Silva JMD, Rodrigues MB, Matos JDP, Mais LA, Martins APB, Claro RM, Horta PM. Use of persuasive strategies in food advertising on television and on social media in Brazil. Prev Med Rep 2021; 24:101520. [PMID: 34976602 PMCID: PMC8683935 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We analyzed the use of persuasive advertising strategies by 18 food brands on TV and Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube in Brazil in April 2018. Advertising strategies were investigated from three groups: power of advertising strategies (n = 10) (e.g., use of licensed character, celebrities, awards, etc), use of the prize offering (n = 9) (e.g., pay 2 take 3 or more, gifts or collectable, limited edition, etc), and use of brand benefit claims (n = 8) (e.g., messages that exalt sensory-based characteristics such as flavor, taste, aroma and recommend how to use/consume the product, etc). Almost 90% of the brands were ultra-processed foods producers and they carried 52 ads on TV and 194 posts on social media platforms. A higher frequency of the strategy ‘cartoon/company owned character’ was found on TV ads (19.2%; p < 0.0001) in comparison to social media platforms (0% on the three platforms) while the presence of ‘famous sportsperson/team’ prevailed on YouTube (41.4%) in comparison to TV (19.2%), Facebook (10.9%) and Instagram (9.1%), p < 0.0001. On YouTube ads, the claims ‘sensory-based characteristics’ (86.2%), ‘suggested use’ (51.7%), and ‘emotive claims’ (31.0%) were more commonly seen in comparison to the other media, while the claims about ‘new brand developments’ (23.1%), ‘price’ (9.6%) and ‘suggesting to children and the whole family to use the advertised product’ (21.1%) prevailed on TV. Ultra-processed food brands are the main food companies that advertise on Brazilian TV and social media and the message transmitted by these brands varies in each media according to the advertising strategies that are used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Moreira da Silva
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130-100, Brazil
| | | | - Juliana de Paula Matos
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Lais Amaral Mais
- Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor, São Paulo, 05002-000, Brazil
- Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 01246-904, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Moreira Claro
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Paula Martins Horta
- Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130-100, Brazil
- Corresponding author at: Av. Alfredo Balena 190, 30130-100, Escola de Enfermagem, 3° andar, sala 312, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Tatlow-Golden M, Jewell J, Zhiteneva O, Wickramasinghe K, Breda J, Boyland E. Rising to the challenge: Introducing protocols to monitor food marketing to children from the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. Obes Rev 2021; 22 Suppl 6:e13212. [PMID: 34184400 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Unhealthy marketing has been unequivocally linked to children's food preferences, requests, purchases and eating behaviors and hence to childhood obesity. Regulating children's exposure to such marketing has been identified as a key challenge to which States must rise. Regulation mandates the need for monitoring and hence for credible data that are comparable between countries, regions and across time. However, there are major challenges presented by the complexity of the digital marketing ecosystem including the personalized targeting with persuasive, exploitative advertising to which children are subject. This narrative review identifies challenges faced by researchers in the digital ecosystem; reviews recent papers attempting to address these and specifies benefits and limitations; and introduces a set of WHO protocols with templates and guidance for studies of food marketing to children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mimi Tatlow-Golden
- Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Jo Jewell
- World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Olga Zhiteneva
- World Health Organization (WHO) European Office for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Kremlin Wickramasinghe
- World Health Organization (WHO) European Office for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - João Breda
- World Health Organization (WHO) European Office for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Emma Boyland
- Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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How food companies use social media to influence policy debates: a framework of Australian ultra-processed food industry Twitter data. Public Health Nutr 2021; 24:3124-3135. [PMID: 33222709 PMCID: PMC9884788 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980020003353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To understand if, and how, Australian ultra-processed food industry actors use Twitter to influence food and health policy debates and produce a conceptual framework to describe such influence. DESIGN Twitter data of prominent industry actors were defined through purposive sampling and inductively coded to investigate possible influence on food and health policy debates. These are described using descriptive statistics and coded extracts. SETTING Australia. PARTICIPANTS Twitter accounts of nine prominent ultra-processed food industry actors, including major trade associations. RESULTS Ultra-processed food industry actors actively used Twitter to influence food and health policy debates. Seven overarching strategies were identified: co-opting public health narratives; opposing regulation; supporting voluntary, co- or self-regulation; engaging policy processes and decision-makers; linking regulatory environments to the need for ongoing profitability; affecting public perceptions and value judgements; and using ignorance claims to distort policy narratives. Each lobbying strategy is underpinned with tactics described throughout and captured in a framework. CONCLUSIONS The current study creates a framework to monitor how food industry actors can use social media to influence food and health policy debates. As such, social media appears to be not only an important commercial determinant of health for brand marketing, but also an extension of lobbying practices to reshape public perceptions of corporate conduct and policy-making.
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Soft drinks and premiums with children's meals marketed on the websites of the top restaurant chains worldwide. Public Health Nutr 2021; 24:3437-3441. [PMID: 33860745 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021001646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the frequency with which soft drinks and premiums are available with children's meals marketed on the top restaurant chains' websites worldwide. DESIGN Cross-sectional structured observational assessment of secondary information about top international restaurant chain children's meals. SETTING Websites of top restaurant chains for 193 countries and five regions of the United Nations. PARTICIPANTS Top restaurant chains (including McDonald's, Subway, Burger King and KFC) across 193 countries. Children's meal images and descriptions were reviewed to determine if the meal was marketed with a soft drink as a beverage option and whether the meal offered a premium. RESULTS Children's meals were marketed online on restaurant websites by at least one of the four chains in a total of seventy eight of the 193 countries (40·4 %). Overall, 56·3 % of countries with any online children's meal marketing by the four chains included at least one chain that marketed soft drinks and 92·3 % marketed premiums with the meal. CONCLUSIONS Every region in the world includes marketing of children's meals on the websites of the top restaurant chains. The high prevalence of premiums marketed online with children's meals is of concern. Similarly, with over 50 % of countries with online children's meal marketing having at least one chain that offers soft drinks as part of the meals, additional regulation and education may be warranted.
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Ventura V, Cavaliere A, Iannò B. #Socialfood: Virtuous or vicious? A systematic review. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This scoping review examines literature from the past 5 years (June 2014 to June 2019) across three databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus) to detail how the persuasive power of child-targeted food marketing content is addressed and evaluated in current research, to document trends and gaps in research, and to identify opportunities for future focus. RECENT FINDINGS Eighty relevant studies were identified, with varied approaches related to examining food marketing techniques to children (i.e., experimental, survey, meta-analyses, mixed methods, content analyses, focus groups). Few studies specifically defined power, and studies differed in terms of techniques examined. Spokes-characters were the predominant marketing technique measured; television was the platform most analyzed; and dominant messages focused on health/nutrition, taste appeals, and appeals to fun/pleasure. Mapping the current landscape when it comes to the power of food marketing to children reveals concrete details about particular platforms, methods, and strategies, as well as opportunities for future research-particularly with respect to definitions and techniques monitored, digital platforms, qualitative research, and tracking changes in targeted marketing techniques over time.
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