Community support for policy interventions targeting unhealthy food environments in public institutions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonie Cranney ◽  
Margaret Thomas ◽  
Megan Cobcroft ◽  
Bradley Drayton ◽  
Chris Rissel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Support ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Food Environments ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Policy Interventions

scholarly journals What have we learned about COVID-19 volunteering in the UK? A rapid review of the literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guanlan Mao ◽  
Maria Fernandes-Jesus ◽  
Evangelos Ntontis ◽  
John Drury
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
National Level ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Mutual Aid ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background Community engagement and volunteering are essential for the public response to COVID-19. Since March 2020 a large number of people in the UK have been regularly doing unpaid activities to benefit others besides their close relatives. Although most mutual aid groups emerged from local neighbourhoods and communities, official public institutions also fostered community volunteering, namely through the community champions scheme. By considering a broad definition of COVID-19 volunteering, this article describes a systematic review of the literature focused on one broad question: What have we learned about COVID-19 volunteering both at the UK national level and the more local community level? Methods A rapid review of the literature in peer-reviewed databases and grey literature was applied in our search, following the PRISMA principles. The search was conducted from 10 to 16 of October 2020, and sources were included on the basis of having been published between January and October 2020, focusing on COVID-19 and addressing community groups, volunteering groups, volunteers, or community champions in the UK. Results After initial screening, a total of 40 relevant sources were identified. From these, 27 were considered eligible. Findings suggest that food shopping and emotional support were the most common activities, but there were diverse models of organisation and coordination in COVID-19 volunteering. Additionally, community support groups seem to be adjusting their activities and scope of action to current needs and challenges. Volunteers were mostly women, middle-class, highly educated, and working-age people. Social networks and connections, local knowledge, and social trust were key dimensions associated with community organising and volunteering. Furthermore, despite the efforts of a few official public institutions and councils, there has been limited community engagement and collaboration with volunteering groups and other community-based organisations. Conclusions We identified important factors for fostering community engagement and COVID-19 volunteering as well as gaps in the current literature. We suggest that future research should be directed towards deepening knowledge on sustaining community engagement, collaboration and community participation over time, during and beyond this pandemic.

scholarly journals Cultural Adaptation and Evaluation of the Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey to the Mediterranean Spanish Context (NEMS-P-MED)

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3257
Author(s):  
Alba Martínez-García ◽  
Eva María Trescastro-López ◽  
María Eugenia Galiana-Sánchez ◽  
Cristóbal Llorens-Ivorra ◽  
Pamela Pereyra-Zamora
Keyword(s):  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Internal Consistency Reliability ◽  
Food Environments ◽  
Food Stores ◽  
Nutrition Environment ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Measurement Tools ◽  
Effective Policy ◽  
Standardized Measurement

Individuals’ perceptions of their food environments are a mediator between exposure to the environment and people’s interaction with it. The Nutrition Environment Measures Surveys (NEMS) are valid and reliable measures to assess food environments. In Spain, there is no adapted instrument to measure the perceived obesogenic environment. This article aims to adapt and evaluate the Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for a Spanish context (NEMS-P-MED). The Spanish version has 32 questions to measure the perception about availability, accessibility and marketing of 3 types of environment: home, shops and restaurants. We assess feasibility, construct validity and internal consistency reliability through a sample of 95 individuals. The internal consistency was acceptable for most items (Cronbach’s alpha coefficients range from 0.6 to 0.9), similar to that of the original scale. The NEMS-P-MED has been shown to be valid and, on certain items reliable, and was useful to assess the population’s perceptions of the food environment in the home, restaurants and food stores in a Spanish context. Adapting standardized measurement tools to specific contexts to assess the perceived and observed characteristics of food environments may facilitate the development of effective policy interventions to reduce excess weight.

scholarly journals The Healthiness of Food and Beverages on Price Promotion at Promotional Displays: A Cross-Sectional Audit of Australian Supermarkets

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 9026
Author(s):  
Lily Grigsby-Duffy ◽  
Sally Schultz ◽  
Liliana Orellana ◽  
Ella Robinson ◽  
Adrian J. Cameron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Environments ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Price Promotion ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Purchasing Decisions ◽  
Price Promotions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Food And Beverages ◽  
Economic Position

Supermarket environments can strongly influence purchasing decisions. Price promotions are recognised as a particularly persuasive tactic, but the healthiness of price promotions in prominent in-store locations is understudied. This study compared the prevalence and magnitude of price promotions on healthy and unhealthy food and beverages (foods) displayed at prominent in-store locations within Australian supermarkets, including analyses by supermarket group and area-level socio-economic position. A cross-sectional in-store audit of price promotions on foods at key display areas was undertaken in 104 randomly selected stores from major Australian supermarket groups (Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and independents) in Victoria, Australia. Of the display space dedicated to foods with price promotions, three of the four supermarket groups had a greater proportion of display space devoted to unhealthy (compared to healthy) foods at each promotional location measured (end of aisles: 66%; island bins: 53%; checkouts: 88%). Aldi offered very few price promotions. Few measures varied by area-level socio-economic position. This study demonstrated that price promotions at prominent in-store locations in Australian supermarkets favoured unhealthy foods. Marketing of this nature is likely to encourage the purchase of unhealthy foods, highlighting the need for retailers and policy-makers to consider addressing in-store pricing and placement strategies to encourage healthier food environments.

scholarly journals Adaptation and Evaluation of the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores to Assess Mediterranean Food Environments (NEMS-S-MED)

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 7031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Martínez-García ◽  
Julia Díez ◽  
Carlos Fernández-Escobar ◽  
Eva María Trescastro-López ◽  
Pamela Pereyra-Zamora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Status ◽  
Kappa Statistics ◽  
Food Environments ◽  
Food Stores ◽  
Census Tracts ◽  
Nutrition Environment ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Measurement Tools ◽  
Urban Contexts ◽  
Access And Affordability

The Nutrition Environment Measures Surveys are valid and reliable measures of community and consumer food environments. This article describes the adaptation and evaluation of the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores (NEMS-S) for Mediterranean urban contexts (NEMS-S-MED). Trained raters used the adapted NEMS-S-MED tool to observe and rate food outlets in 21 census tracts and 43 food stores across the city of Madrid, Spain. We evaluated inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities, construct validity, and the tool’s ability to discriminate between store types and between stores by area-level Socio-Economic Status (SES). Overall, the mean NEMS-S-MED score was 20.7 (SD = 9.8), which ranged from 7 to 43. Most food items displayed substantial or almost perfect inter-rater and intra-rater agreements; the percentage agreement across availability items was almost perfect and kappa statistics were also very high (median κ = 1.00 for inter-rater; κ = 0.92 for intra-rater). Furthermore, the NEMS-S-MED tool was able to discriminate between store types and census tracts of different SES. The adapted NEMS-S-MED instrument is a reliable and valid audit tool to assess the consumer food environment in Mediterranean urban contexts. Well-constructed measurement tools, such as the NEMS-S-MED, may facilitate the development of effective policy interventions to increase healthy food access and affordability.

scholarly journals The Nature and Extent of Online Marketing by Big Food and Big Alcohol During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia: Content Analysis Study

10.2196/25202 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. e25202
Author(s):  
Florentine Martino ◽  
Ruby Brooks ◽  
Jennifer Browne ◽  
Nicholas Carah ◽  
Christina Zorbas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Online Marketing ◽  
World Health ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Parent Companies

Background Emerging evidence demonstrates that obesity is associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Excessive alcohol consumption and “comfort eating” as coping mechanisms during times of high stress have been shown to further exacerbate mental and physical ill-health. Global examples suggest that unhealthy food and alcohol brands and companies are using the COVID-19 pandemic to further market their products. However, there has been no systematic, in-depth analysis of how “Big Food” and “Big Alcohol” are capitalizing on the COVID-19 pandemic to market their products and brands. Objective We aimed to quantify the extent and nature of online marketing by alcohol and unhealthy food and beverage companies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Methods We conducted a content analysis of all COVID-19-related social media posts made by leading alcohol and unhealthy food and beverage brands (n=42) and their parent companies (n=12) over a 4-month period (February to May 2020) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Results Nearly 80% of included brands and all parent companies posted content related to COVID-19 during the 4-month period. Quick service restaurants (QSRs), food and alcohol delivery companies, alcohol brands, and bottle shops were the most active in posting COVID-19-related content. The most common themes for COVID-19-related marketing were isolation activities and community support. Promotion of hygiene and home delivery was also common, particularly for QSRs and alcohol and food delivery companies. Parent companies were more likely to post about corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, such as donations of money and products, and to offer health advice. Conclusions This is the first study to show that Big Food and Big Alcohol are incessantly marketing their products and brands on social media platforms using themes related to COVID-19, such as isolation activities and community support. Parent companies are frequently posting about CSR initiatives, such as donations of money and products, thereby creating a fertile environment to loosen current regulation or resist further industry regulation. “COVID-washing” by large alcohol brands, food and beverage brands, and their parent companies is both common and concerning. The need for comprehensive regulations to restrict unhealthy food and alcohol marketing, as recommended by the World Health Organization, is particularly acute in the COVID-19 context and is urgently required to “build back better” in a post-COVID-19 world.

scholarly journals Commercial food advertising on the campus of Ghana’s largest University

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gideon S Amevinya ◽  
Wilhemina Quarpong ◽  
Amos Laar
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Food Advertising ◽  
Food Environments ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Emotional Appeal ◽  
Purchasing Behaviour

Background Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of death globally. NCD mortality attributable to unhealthy food environments (FEs) is significant. Heavy marketing of unhealthy foods is an important contributor to unhealthy FEs. Aims We examined the extent of commercial food advertising, messaging, and signage on the campus of Ghana’s oldest and largest university. Methods We cross-sectionally collected data on all sighted advertisements. Advertisements/signage were categorised as food or non-food adverts, and as healthy or unhealthy (if they were food). Results Of 503 advertisements recorded, 238 (47.3%) were food ads. Advertised food products were categorised as healthy (38.7%), unhealthy (57.6%), or other/miscellaneous (3.8%).  The most advertised food product was sugar-sweetened drinks (37.0%).   Different promotional techniques deployed included the use of claim pronouncement, promotional characters, emotional appeal, premium offer, and price promotion. Conclusions The preponderance of unhealthy food advertising on the campus of Ghana’s largest university has public health implications. Advertising may influence purchasing behaviour and consumption of unhealthy foods. Publicity and advocacy that motivate development of local policies to regulate various food promotion activities within this, and other Ghanaian food environments are urgently needed.

scholarly journals An accountability framework to promote healthy food environments

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 2467-2483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivica I Kraak ◽  
Boyd Swinburn ◽  
Mark Lawrence ◽  
Paul Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Food Industry ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Performance Standards ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Food Environments ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
And Performance

AbstractObjectiveTo review the available literature on accountability frameworks to construct a framework that is relevant to voluntary partnerships between government and food industry stakeholders.DesignBetween November 2012 and May 2013, a desk review of ten databases was conducted to identify principles, conceptual frameworks, underlying theories, and strengths and limitations of existing accountability frameworks for institutional performance to construct a new framework relevant to promoting healthy food environments.SettingFood policy contexts within high-income countries to address obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases.SubjectsEligible resources (n 26) were reviewed and the guiding principles of fifteen interdisciplinary frameworks were used to construct a new accountability framework.ResultsStrengths included shared principles across existing frameworks, such as trust, inclusivity, transparency and verification; government leadership and good governance; public deliberations; independent bodies recognizing compliance and performance achievements; remedial actions to improve accountability systems; and capacity to manage conflicts of interest and settle disputes. Limitations of the three-step frameworks and ‘mutual accountability’ approach were an explicit absence of an empowered authority to hold all stakeholders to account for their performance.ConclusionsWe propose a four-step accountability framework to guide government and food industry engagement to address unhealthy food environments as part of a broader government-led strategy to address obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases. An independent body develops clear objectives, a governance process and performance standards for all stakeholders to address unhealthy food environments. The empowered body takes account (assessment), shares the account (communication), holds to account (enforcement) and responds to the account (improvements).

scholarly journals Snapshots of Urban and Rural Food Environments: EPOCH-Based Mapping in a High-, Middle-, and Low-Income Country from a Non-Communicable Disease Perspective

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 484
Author(s):  
Mark Spires ◽  
Aravinda Berggreen-Clausen ◽  
Francis Xavier Kasujja ◽  
Peter Delobelle ◽  
Thandi Puoane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Matched Pair ◽  
Food Environments ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Food Retail ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Retail Outlets

A changing food environment is implicated as a primary contributor to the increasing levels of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study aimed to generate snapshots of selected external food environments to inform intervention strategies for NCD prevention in three countries: Uganda (low income), South Africa (middle income) and Sweden (high income), with one matched pair of urban–rural sites per country. Fifty formal and informal food retail outlets were assessed, and descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed. We found that formal food retail outlets in these countries had both positive and negative traits, as they were the main source of basic food items but also made unhealthy food items readily available. The Ugandan setting had predominantly informal outlets, while the Swedish setting had primarily formal outlets and South Africa had both, which fits broadly into the traditional (Uganda), mixed (South Africa) and modern (Sweden) conceptualized food systems. The promotion of unhealthy food products was high in all settings. Uganda had the highest in-community advertising, followed by South Africa and Sweden with the lowest, perhaps related to differences in regulation and implementation. The findings speak to the need to address contextual differences in NCD-related health interventions by incorporating strategies that address the food environment, and for a critical look at regulations that tackle key environment-related factors of food on a larger scale.

scholarly journals A Survey-Based Qualitative Analysis of the Institutional Structures and Policy Measures in the Shea Sector of Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Adimabuno Awo
Keyword(s):  
Community Support ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Market Failures ◽  
State Institutions ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Institutional Structures ◽  
Northern Regions ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Local Use

Shea is an important tree crop for women in the three impoverished northern regions of Ghana and is considered to be a major source of poverty alleviation in these regions. The crop is picked in the wild as nuts mainly by women who sell the nuts to processors. These nuts are processed into butter and soap for local use and/or for exports. Institutional structures, from a variety sources including the cultural environment, community support systems and the State regulatory and support mechanisms, shape the opportunities, constraints and obstacles facing women pickers and local processors who rely on shea as an important source of income and economic empowerment. Both State and non-State institutions in Ghana have designed various policy interventions and programmes for the shea sector with the objective of reducing market failures of the sector and to improve incomes of shea-producing households. Based on a relatively large survey of 405 shea-producing households in selected districts of the Northern Region of Ghana, this paper discusses the institutional structures and policy measures in the shea sector in Ghana. From the perspective of the survey respondents, there is not enough coordination of programmes and policies among the various institutions in the shea sector. Respondents feel that the shea sector is largely unregulated; various actors take actions mainly for their own benefits and not necessarily for the benefit of the whole sector. Organised groups of shea-producing households are more likely to improve their chances of being impacted by programmes and policies of State and non-State institutions than unorganized individual shea-producing households.

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