Fast Food, Obesity, and Tort Reform: An Examination of Industry Responsibility for Public Health

2005 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
RONALD ADAMS
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Tort Reform

Stakeholder responses toward fast food chains’ CSR

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeonsoo Kim ◽  
Mari Luz Zapata Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Issue ◽  
Public Relations ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Corporate Image ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Supportive Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how stakeholders perceive the motives behind fast food companies’ public health-related corporate social responsibility (CSR) and general social issue-related CSR initiatives, and their responses toward CSR in terms of supportive communication intent, investment intent, and purchase intent. The authors further examine the impact of perceived CSR motives on intent and whether a healthier chain image has an effect on stakeholder responses. Design/methodology/approach An online experiment was conducted. This study employed a randomized 2 (CSR type: health-related CSR vs generic social issue-related CSR)×2 (chain image: healthier chain vs general fast-food chain) full factorial design using general stakeholder samples. Findings For an ordinary fast food restaurant, generic social issue-related CSR programs elicited significantly more positive perceptions of CSR motives, supportive communication intent and investment intent, than public-health related CSR. When a company has a healthier image, stakeholders do not distinguish between CSR types. Stakeholders perceive both CSR types as stemming from mutually beneficial motives and show neutral to slightly positive reactions to both CSR. A positively perceived CSR motive plays a determinant role in anticipating communication, investment, and purchase intents. Originality/value This is the first study that examines stakeholder perception of motives behind and responses toward fast food chains’ health-related vs generic social issue-related CSR initiatives, in light of corporate image. The study findings help public relations practitioners, public health professionals, parent groups, and legislators understand stakeholders’ reactions toward CSR initiatives in the fast food industry and help them monitor practices for improvements.

Obesity, equity and choice

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 323-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy M Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Food Outlets ◽  
Rich Countries

Obesity is often considered a public health crisis in rich countries that might be alleviated by preventive regulations such as a sugar tax or limiting the density of fast food outlets. This paper evaluates these regulations from the point of view of equity. Obesity is in many countries correlated with socioeconomic status and some believe that preventive regulations would reduce inequity. The puzzle is this: how could policies that reduce the options of the badly off be more equitable? Suppose we distinguish: (1) the badly off have poor options from (2) the badly off are poor at choosing between their options (ie, have a choosing problem). If obesity is due to a poverty of options, it would be perverse to reduce them further. Some people in public health say that preventive regulations do not reduce options but, I shall argue, they are largely wrong. So the equity case for regulations depends on the worst off having a choosing problem. It also depends on their having a choosing problem that makes their choices against their interests. Perhaps they do. I ask, briefly, what the evidence has to say about whether the badly off choose against their interests. The evidence is thin but implies that introducing preventive regulations for the sake of equity would be at least premature.

Popular Culture and Public Health

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darrell L. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Popular Culture ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Soft Drink ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Private University ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Health Behavior Changes

The key to living a longer, healthier life lies in one’s ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle and make health behavior changes. Public health professionals face the difficult task of developing effective health communication to encourage healthy lifestyles for an American public distracted by competing demands, such as work obligations and family responsibilities, along with savvy commercial marketing from soft drink makers and fast-food restaurants. Public health educators must do a better job of equipping public health students to meet these challenges. The goal of this article is to describe components of a transdisciplinary problem-solving course, titled “Popular Culture and Public Health,” offered at a private university in the Midwest, geared to help prepare students to meet these challenges. Components from the course described here serves as a model for development of an engaging, solution-oriented course for public health education.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitudes and potential response to menu labelling in an urban public health clinic population

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 550-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Piron ◽  
Lisa V Smith ◽  
Paul Simon ◽  
Patricia L Cummings ◽  
Tony Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Potential Response ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Clinic Population ◽  
Public Health Clinic

AbstractObjectiveThe present study examines the receptivity to and potential effects of menu labelling on food choices of low-income and minority individuals – a group often at disproportionate risk for preventable, lifestyle-related health conditions (e.g. obesity, diabetes and CVD).DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine the knowledge, attitudes and potential response to menu labelling in an urban public health clinic population.SettingUnited States.SubjectsA total of 639 clinic patients were recruited in the waiting rooms of six, large public health centres in Los Angeles County (2007–2008). These centres provide services to a largely uninsured or under-insured, low-income, Latino and African-American population.ResultsAmong those approached and who met eligibility criteria, 88 % completed the survey. Of the 639 respondents, 55 % were overweight or obese based on self-reported heights and weights; 74 % reported visiting a fast food restaurant at least once in the past year, including 22 % at least once a week; 93 % thought that calorie information was ‘important’; and 86 % thought that restaurants should be required to post calorie information on their menu boards. In multivariate analyses, respondents who were obese, female, Latino and supportive of calorie postings were more likely than others to report that they would choose food and beverages with lower calories as a result of menu labelling.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that clinic patients are receptive to this population-based strategy and that they would be inclined to change their food selections in response to menu labelling.

scholarly journals Do ‘Cheeseburger Bills’ Work? Effects of Tort Reform for Fast Food

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Carpenter ◽  
D. Sebastian Tello-Trillo
Keyword(s):  
Fast Food ◽  
Tort Reform

scholarly journals Obesity epidemic in urban Tanzania: a public health calamity in an already overwhelmed and fragmented health system

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Pallangyo ◽  
Zabella S. Mkojera ◽  
Naairah R. Hemed ◽  
Happiness J. Swai ◽  
Nsajigwa Misidai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Dar Es Salaam ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Smoking History ◽  
Healthy Weight

Abstract Background Worldwide, the epidemiological and demographic transitions have resulted in nutrition shift characterized by an increased consumption of high energy fast food products. In just over 3 decades, overweight and obesity rates have nearly tripled to currently affecting over a third of the global population. Notwithstanding the ever present under-nutrition burden, sub Saharan Africa (SSA) is witnessing a drastic escalation of overweight and obesity. We aimed to explore the prevalence and associated factors for obesity among residents of Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania. Methods Participants from this study were recruited in a community screening conducted during the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair. Sociodemographic and clinical data were gathered using a structured questionnaire during enrollment. Dietary habits and anthropometric measurements were assessed using standard methods. All statistical analyses utilized STATA v11.0 software. Pearson Chi square and Student’s T-test were used to compare categorical and continuous variables respectively. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess for factors associated with BMI ≥ 25. All tests were 2-sided and p < 0.05 was used to denote a statistical significance. Results A total of 6691 participants were enrolled. The mean age was 43.1 years and males constituted 54.2% of all participants. Over two-thirds of participants were alcohol consumers and 6.9% had a positive smoking history. 88.3% of participants were physically inactive, 4.7% had a history of diabetes mellitus and 18.1% were known to have elevated blood pressure. Overweight and obesity were observed in 34.8 and 32.4% of participants respectively. Among overweight and obese participants, 32.8% had a misperception of having a healthy weight. Age ≥ 40, female gender, a current working status, habitual breakfast skipping, poor water intake, high soft drink consumption, regular fast food intake, low vegetable and fruit consumption, alcohol consumption and hypertension were found to be independent associated factors for obesity. Conclusion Amidst the ever present undernutrition in SSA, a significant proportion of participants had excess body weight. Concomitantly, the rates of physical inactivity and unhealthy eating are disproportionately high in Dar es Salaam. In view of this, community-based and multilevel public health strategies to promote and maintain healthy eating and physical activity require an urgent step-up in urban Tanzania.

scholarly journals Time Transition of Routines in Fast Food Consumption-Importance to Public Health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akansha Khare ◽  
Chandra Pal Sharma ◽  
Neelu Jain Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Quality ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Cross Sectional

Introduction: Fast Food (FF) consumption reduces the nutritional quality of daily diet. FF is even more detrimental to human health, if preferred during night-time meals, because metabolism is slower at end of the day. Quality of food and time of eating are nutritional determinants of the health. Aim: To study the association of anthropometric and societal factors such as age, Body Mass Index (BMI), health awareness with frequency of FF and preference for meal timings. Materials and Methods: Through a cross-sectional Google-form food preference survey of 2887 people, it was sought to uncover a possible association between the perception and frequency of FF and preference for mealtimes. Unadjusted associations of people’s eating preferences with age, BMI and health awareness with FF intake was analysed using Spearman’s correlation coefficients, Cronbach’s α, Eigen values, odd ratios, relative risk factors and χ2-tests. Results: The high odd ratio revealed greater FF popularity in adolescents and children as compared to adults. Principal component analysis revealed four important factors (Eigen value >0.9; factor weight >12%) viz., age, busy life, body weight and weekend drive. Taking FF as a food quality index, there was food quality jetlag between week days and weekends. Psychometric analysis revealed a positive association between preferred mealtime and FF intake. Conclusion: Mealtimes regulate the human circadian system; therefore, health consequences of FF consumption ensconce other determinants of public health like night eating and lifestyle. The deteriorating effects of FF are associated with circadian disruption. More research is needed to highlight associativity of different lifestyle factors detrimental to circadian health.

scholarly journals Askese som social/politisk mobilisering: Joseph Alters bog om Gandhi, Gandhi’s Body

2016 ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Mikael Aktor
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Michel Foucault ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Political Mobilization ◽  
Sexual Abstinence ◽  
The Veil ◽  
Will Force

There are several historical examples of asceticism as a means to social and political mobilization. Gandhi’s use of fasts and sexual abstinence in the larger fight for national independence is a well-known recent example. Joseph Alter’s book, Gandhi’s Body: Sex, Diet, and the Politics of Nationalism from 2000 is a relevant source for such considerations. Alter describes Gandhi’s personal experiments with public health, fast, food, sexual abstinence and both traditional and Western medicine in the perspective of national independence. For Gandhi ascetic practices were at the same time personal and for the sake of the nation. He saw his own success in these practices as guarantee of the necessary social and political changes. ‘Truth’ was the keyword in Gandhi’s thinking because he regarded truth as a transforming power. The non-violent resistance will either force injustice to yield or it will force it to reveal its true, violent face. But to activate truth one has to integrate truth in one’s own being. In this Gandhi was in line with an ascetic tradition that has been described by Peter Brown, Michel Foucault and Talal Asad: By eliminating the private I through awareness of hidden desires and through public confession the ascet-ic reaches a state of transparency where the veil between him-/herself and God/Truth is removed. This kind of socially and politically mobilizing asceticism indicates how the ascetic can be a component in a more collective social dynamics.

scholarly journals Exploring the fast food and planning appeals system in England and Wales: decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS)

2020 ◽  
pp. 175791392092442
Author(s):  
CL O’Malley ◽  
AA Lake ◽  
TG Townshend ◽  
HJ Moore
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Local Planning ◽  
Research Knowledge ◽  
National Planning ◽  
Appeals Process

Background: The National Planning Policy Framework advocates the promotion of ‘healthy communities’. Controlling availability and accessibility of hot food takeaways is a strategy which the planning system may use to promote healthier environments. Under certain circumstances, for example, local authorities can reject applications for new hot food takeaways. However, these decisions are often subject to appeal. The National Planning Inspectorate decide appeals – by upholding or dismissing cases. The aim of this research is to explore and examine the National Planning Inspectorate’s decision-making. Methods: The appeals database finder was searched to identify hot food takeaway appeal cases. Thematic analysis of appeals data was carried out. Narrative synthesis provided an overview of the appeals process and explored factors that were seen to impact on the National Planning Inspectorate’s decision-making processes. Results: The database search identified 52 appeals cases. Results suggest there is little research in this area and the appeals process is opaque. There appears to be minimal evidence to support associations between the food environment and health and a lack of policy guidance to inform local planning decisions. Furthermore, this research has identified non-evidence-based factors that influence the National Planning Inspectorate’s decisions. Conclusion: Results from this research will provide public health officers, policy planners and development control planners with applied public health research knowledge from which they can draw upon to make sound decisions in evaluating evidence to ensure they are successfully equipped to deal with and defend hot food takeaway appeal cases.

scholarly journals Prevalence, awareness and risk factors of hypertension in Hmawbi Cantonment Area, Yangon Region, Myanmar

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-26
Author(s):  
Ye Minn Htun ◽  
Kyaw Sann Win ◽  
Ye Naung ◽  
Wunna ◽  
Kyaw Soe
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Alcohol Drinking ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Current Smoker ◽  
Regular Exercise ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stressful Condition

Hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for global mortality. A community based cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in Hmawbi Cantonment Area, Yangon Region in November, 2015. This study aimed to identify the prevalence, awareness and risk factors of hypertension concerning smoking, alcohol dinking, eating food pattern, taking regular exercise, stressful condition and body mass index (BMI). The sample consisted of 210 respondents from three Units (Light Infantry Regiments) were randomly selected to participate in the study. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. It was found that 33.3% of respondents had hypertension; 55.7% achieved good awareness on hypertension as well; 16.7% respondents were current smoker; 7.6% had the history of alcohol drinking; 67.1% respondents took regular exercise; 29.5% respondents were in stressful condition; 32.9% re-spondents were overweight and 19.5% were obese. Hypertension was significantly associated with age (p-0.001), family income (p<0.001), awareness level (p-0.01), current smoking status (p<0.001), alcohol drinking (p<0.001), regular exercise taking (p<0.001), stressful condition (p<0.001), and increase BMI (p<0.001) of respondents. This setting in Hmawbi evidenced that age, family income, smoking, alcohol drinking, consumption of salty and fast food, stressful condition and increase BMI were identified as risk factors and taking regular exercise was protective. Over-all, over 50% of respondents having good awareness show that favorable circumstances exist for further strengthening the hypertension prevention and control program. These findings have implications for future public health interven-tion and clinical efforts to decrease the prevalence of hypertension among population.South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.6(1) 2016: 20-26

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