Development of a Responsible Policy Index to Improve Statutory and Self-Regulatory Policies that Protect Children’s Diet and Health in the America’s Region

Sofía Rincón-Gallardo Patiño, Srijith Rajamohan, Kathleen Meaney, Eloise Coupey, Elena Serrano, Valisa E. Hedrick, Fabio da Silva Gomes, Nicholas Polys and Vivica Kraak
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Sofía Rincón-Gallardo Patiño: Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Srijith Rajamohan: Advanced Research Computing, Information Technology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Kathleen Meaney: School of Visual Arts, College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Eloise Coupey: Department of Marketing, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Elena Serrano: Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Valisa E. Hedrick: Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Fabio da Silva Gomes: Department of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organization, Washington, DC 20037, USA
Nicholas Polys: Advanced Research Computing, Information Technology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Vivica Kraak: Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: In 2010, 193 Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed World Health Assembly Resolution WHA63.14 to restrict the marketing of food and beverage products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) to children to prevent obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). No study has examined HFSS marketing policies across the WHO regional office countries in the Americas. Between 2018 and 2019, a transdisciplinary team examined policies to restrict HFSS food and beverage product marketing to children to develop a responsible policy index (RESPI) that provides a quality score based on policy characteristics and marketing techniques. After designing the RESPI, we conducted a comprehensive literature review through October 2019 to examine policies in 14 countries in the WHO Americans Region. We categorized policies ( n = 38) as either self-regulatory or statutory and calculated the RESPI scores, ranked from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest). Results showed Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Uruguay had the highest RESPI scores associated with statutory policies that restricted point of sale, cartoon, licensed media characters and celebrities; and HFSS products in schools and child care settings, and broadcast and print media. Policymakers can use the RESPI tool to evaluate marketing policies within and across geopolitical boundaries to protect children’s diet and health.

Keywords: food and beverage marketing; food policy; nutrition policy; children; integrated marketing communications; government policy; obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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