Obesity and Lifestyle Drift: Framing Analysis of Calorie Menu Labelling in England in News Media

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

Abstract

Background 
Successive government public health strategies in England have described structural influences of dietrelated ill health, including obesity, while emphasising the solution of individual-level change in policy documents. This entrenchment of an individualistic policy paradigm, despite communicating a recognition of structural determinants of health on paper, has been termed “lifestyle drift.” The 2020 government strategy, Tackling Obesity, included policies to address structural determinants of health like the physical and digital food environments but ultimately failed to shift responsibility for diet-related ill health onto structural factors. This study uses the contestation of calorie labelling (CL) in the out-of-home (OOH) sector, one of the strategy’s only two implemented measures, in English newspapers to investigate how the policy is framed, and the potential role of media framing in facilitating lifestyle drift.
 
Methods 
We systematically searched the Factiva database for articles from 12 UK national newspapers that discussed CL between January 2017 and May 2022, and assessed them relative to inclusion criteria. We then used a combination of reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) and framing theory to qualitatively analyse the framing of policy problems and the solutions meant to address them.
 
Results  
A total of 177 articles met our criteria. We found that media framing often reinforced individualism, personal responsibility, and moralisation of behaviour. It also emphasised perceived mixed and inconclusive evidence of CL’s effectiveness, unfairness to businesses, and unintended consequences, including negative impacts on the economy and people living with eating disorders.
 
Conclusion 
Despite an initial shift towards framing interventions to address obesity through a structural lens in Tackling Obesity, CL legislation and accompanying news coverage reflected a drift back towards individualism. To enact effective, structural change to address diet-related public health issues, policy discourses and approaches need to move away from individualising and moralising framing of both public health problems and potential solutions. 

Keywords

References

  1. Theis DRZ, White M. Is obesity policy in England fit for purpose? Analysis of government strategies and policies, 1992-2020. Milbank Q. 2021;99(1):126-170. doi:1111/1468-0009.12498
  2. Ralston R, Godziewski C, Carters-White L. The many meanings of policy instruments: exploring individual and structural determinants in obesity policy. Policy Polit. 2023;51(2):295-313. doi:1332/030557321x16762984942169
  3. Tackling Obesity: Empowering Adults and Children to Live Healthier Lives. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-obesity-government-strategy/tackling-obesity-empowering-adults-and-children-to-live-healthier-lives. Published July 27, 2020. Accessed June 24, 2022.
  4. van Hulst M, Yanow D. From policy “frames” to “framing”: theorizing a more dynamic, political approach. Am Rev Public Adm. 2014;46(1):92-112. doi:1177/0275074014533142
  5. Entman RM. Framing: toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. J Commun. 1993;43(4):51-58. doi:1111/j.1460-2466.1993.tb01304.x
  6. Rein M, Schön D. Frame-critical policy analysis and frame-reflective policy practice. Knowledge and Policy. 1996;9(1):85-104. doi:1007/bf02832235
  7. Cullerton K, Patay D, Waller M, Adsett E, Lee A. Competing public narratives in nutrition policy: insights into the ideational barriers of public support for regulatory nutrition measures. Health Res Policy Syst. 2022;20(1):86. doi:1186/s12961-022-00891-6
  8. Dorfman L, Wallack L, Woodruff K. More than a message: framing public health advocacy to change corporate practices. Health Educ Behav. 2005;32(3):320-336. doi:1177/1090198105275046
  9. Jenkin GL, Signal L, Thomson G. Framing obesity: the framing contest between industry and public health at the New Zealand inquiry into obesity. Obes Rev. 2011;12(12):1022-1030. doi:1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00918.x
  10. Fuchs D, Lederer MM. The power of business. Bus Polit. 2007;9(3):1-17. doi:2202/1469-3569.1214
  11. Hunter DJ, Popay J, Tannahill C, Whitehead M. Getting to grips with health inequalities at last? BMJ. 2010;340:c684. doi:1136/bmj.c684
  12. Whitehead M, Popay J. Swimming upstream? Taking action on the social determinants of health inequalities. Soc Sci Med. 2010;71(7):1234-1236. doi:1016/j.socscimed.2010.07.004
  13. Bonell C, McKee M, Fletcher A, Haines A, Wilkinson P. Nudge smudge: UK Government misrepresents "nudge.” Lancet. 2011;377(9784):2158-2159. doi:1016/s0140-6736(11)60063-9
  14. Butland B, Jebb S, Kopelman P, et al. Tackling Obesities: Future Choices. London: Government Office for Science; 2007. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a759da7e5274a4368298a4f/07-1184x-tackling-obesities-future-choices-report.pdf.
  15. Sunstein CR, Thaler RH. Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness. Penguin Books; 2009.
  16. Hird TR, Gallagher AWA, Evans-Reeves K, et al. Understanding the long-term policy influence strategies of the tobacco industry: two contemporary case studies. Tob Control. 2022;31(2):297-307. doi:1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-057030
  17. Muggli ME, Lee K, Gan Q, Ebbert JO, Hurt RD. "Efforts to Reprioritise the Agenda" in China: British American Tobacco's efforts to influence public policy on secondhand smoke in China. PLoS Med. 2008;5(12):1729-1769. doi:1371/journal.pmed.0050251
  18. Hawkins B, Holden C. Framing the alcohol policy debate: industry actors and the regulation of the UK beverage alcohol market. Crit Policy Stud. 2013;7(1):53-71. doi:1080/19460171.2013.766023
  19. McCambridge J, Mialon M, Hawkins B. Alcohol industry involvement in policymaking: a systematic review. Addiction. 2018;113(9):1571-1584. doi:1111/add.14216
  20. van Schalkwyk MC, Maani N, McKee M, Thomas S, Knai C, Petticrew M. "When the Fun Stops, Stop": an analysis of the provenance, framing and evidence of a 'responsible gambling' campaign. PLoS One. 2021;16(8):e0255145. doi:1371/journal.pone.0255145
  21. Carters-White L, Chambers S, Skivington K, Hilton S. Whose rights deserve protection? Framing analysis of responses to the 2016 Committee of Advertising Practice consultation on the non-broadcast advertising of foods and soft drinks to children. Food Policy. 2021;104:102139. doi:1016/j.foodpol.2021.102139
  22. Razavi A, Adams J, White M. What arguments and from whom are most influential in shaping public health policy: thematic content analysis of responses to a public consultation on the regulation of television food advertising to children in the UK. BMJ Open. 2019;9(8):e028221. doi:1136/bmjopen-2018-028221
  23. Gilmore AB, Fabbri A, Baum F, et al. Defining and conceptualising the commercial determinants of health. Lancet. 2023;401(10383):1194-1213. doi:1016/s0140-6736(23)00013-2
  24. Ulucanlar S, Lauber K, Fabbri A, et al. Corporate political activity: taxonomies and model of corporate influence on public policy. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2023;12:7292. doi:34172/ijhpm.2023.7292
  25. Harcup T, O’Neill D. What is news? News values revisited (again). Journal Stud. 2017;18(12):1470-1488. doi:1080/1461670x.2016.1150193
  26. Entman RM. How the media affect what people think: an information processing approach. J Polit. 1989;51(2):347-70. doi:2307/2131346
  27. McCombs ME, Shaw DL. The agenda-setting function of mass media. Public Opin Q. 1972;36(2):176-187. doi:1086/267990
  28. Otten AL. The influence of the mass media on health policy. Health Aff (Millwood). 1992;11(4):111-118. doi:1377/hlthaff.11.4.111
  29. Weishaar H, Dorfman L, Freudenberg N, et al. Why media representations of corporations matter for public health policy: a scoping review. BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):899. doi:1186/s12889-016-3594-8
  30. Rowbotham S, McKinnon M, Marks L, Hawe P. Research on media framing of public policies to prevent chronic disease: a narrative synthesis. Soc Sci Med. 2019;237:112428. doi:1016/j.socscimed.2019.112428
  31. Crockett RA, King SE, Marteau TM, et al. Nutritional labelling for healthier food or non-alcoholic drink purchasing and consumption. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2(2):CD009315. doi:1002/14651858.CD009315.pub2
  32. Robinson E, Marty L, Jones A, White M, Smith R, Adams J. Will calorie labels for food and drink served outside the home improve public health? BMJ. 2021;372:n40. doi:1136/bmj.n40
  33. Essman M, Bishop T, Burgoine T, et al. Implementation and enforcement of mandatory calorie labelling regulations for the out-of-home sector in England: qualitative study of the experiences of business implementers and regulatory enforcers. medRxiv [Preprint]. February 20, 2024. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.02.18.24302990v1.
  34. Polden M, Jones A, Essman M, et al. Evaluating the effect of mandatory kilocalorie labelling on energy consumed in the out-of-home food sector: a pre vs. post-implementation observational study in England. PsyArXiv [Preprint]. February 16, 2024. https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/azcqy_v1.
  35. Polden M, Jones A, Essman M, et al. Point-of-choice kilocalorie labelling practices in large, out-of-home food businesses: a preobservational versus post observational study of labelling practices following implementation of the calorie labelling (out of home sector) (England) regulations 2021. BMJ Open. 2024;14(4):e080405. doi:1136/bmjopen-2023-080405
  36. Government plans to tackle obesity in England. Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre. 2023. https://healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/07/government-plans-to-tackle-obesity-in-england/. Accessed October 18, 2023.
  37. Polden M, Robinson E, Jones A. Assessing public perception and awareness of UK mandatory calorie labeling in the out-of-home sector: using Twitter and Google trends data. Obes Sci Pract. 2023;9(5):459-467. doi:1002/osp4.674
  38. Hope C. Online Food Delivery Companies, Restaurants and Cafes “To be Forced to Display Calorie Labels.” The Telegraph. 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/09/14/online-food-delivery-companies-restaurants-cafes-forced-display/. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  39. Mayhew F. National Newspaper ABCs: Daily Star Sunday Sees Biggest Print Drop in First 2020 Circulation Figures. Press Gazette; 2020. https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/media_metrics/national-newspaper-abc-daily-star-sunday-print-drop-first-2020-circulation-figures/. Accessed March 14, 2024.
  40. Braun V, Clarke V. Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. London: SAGE Publications; 2022.
  41. Karreman N, Essman MA, Hawkins B, Adams J, White M. Newspaper coverage of calorie labelling in the UK, 2017 – 2022: A thematic analysis. OSF [Preprint]. July 1, 2022. https://osf.io/zetgp.
  42. Birkland TA. Agenda setting in public policy. In: Fischer F, Miller GJ, Sidney MS, eds. Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods. 1st ed. Public Administration and Public Policy. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis; 2006:63-78.
  43. Bacchi C. Problematizations in health policy: questioning how “problems” are constituted in policies. Sage Open. 2016;6(2):2158244016653986. doi:1177/2158244016653986
  44. Bacchi C. Analysing Policy: What's the Problem Represented to Be? Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Australia; 2009.
  45. Yau A, Singh-Lalli H, Forde H, Keeble M, White M, Adams J. Newspaper coverage of food insecurity in UK, 2016-2019: a multi-method analysis. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):1201. doi:1186/s12889-021-11214-9
  46. Braun V, Clarke V. Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern-based qualitative analytic approaches. Couns Psychother Res. 2021;21(1):37-47. doi:1002/capr.12360
  47. Braun V, Clarke V. Supporting best practice in reflexive thematic analysis reporting in Palliative Medicine: a review of published research and introduction to the Reflexive Thematic Analysis Reporting Guidelines (RTARG). Palliat Med. 2024;38(6):608-616. doi:1177/02692163241234800
  48. Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action, Chapter 2. UK: HM Government; 2018. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b30a40de5274a55c78cef32/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action-chapter-2.pdf.
  49. Davies J. Revealed, the Most Calorific Meals at UK’s Biggest Chains: Fried Breakfasts at Toby Carvery Contain Up to 2,400 Calories (And Even A “Cheeky Nando’s” Can Eat Up Almost All of Your Daily Limit). Daily Mail; 2022. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-10687089/The-calorific-meals-UKs-biggest-restaurant-chains.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  50. Duffield C. Calorie Counts Set to Appear on Menus as Part of Government Drive to Tackle Obesity. The Independent; 2022. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/calorie-counts-menus-obsesity-b2051305.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  51. Quinn S. “The Bottom Line is That You Don’t Need to Count Calories.” The Daily Telegraph; 2020:21.
  52. Waugh D. Calorie counts on menus will not make any of us thinner. i; 2018:22.
  53. Elgot J. Web Ads for Junk Food Could be Banned Under UK Government Plans. The Guardian; 2020:15.
  54. Barr S. What is Obesity and How is it Measured? The Independent; 2020. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/obesity-definition-bmi-government-bogof-junk-food-health-a9639776.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  55. Clarke J. Calorie Counts to Appear on Menus as Part of Government Drive to Tackle Obesity. The Standard; 2022. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/government-businesses-england-obesity-diners-b992589.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  56. Gallagher S. ‘I Would Think - Best Not Eat Then’: Why Putting Exercise Labels on Food Could Impact People with Eating Disorders. The Independent; 2020. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-exercise-labels-calories-obesity-eating-disorders-a9241906.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  57. Grant K. How fast food took over our high streets. i; 2018:24,25.
  58. Donnelly L. Most Restaurant Diners Want Calorie Counts on the Menu. The Telegraph; 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/restaurant-diners-want-calorie-counts-menu/. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  59. Ng K. Would More Labelling Really Help Us Eat Less Sugar? The Independent; 2021. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/sugar-consumption-labels-obesity-health-b1904772.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  60. Watson S. Want to Lose Weight? Turn the Heating Off and Book a Photographer. The Daily Telegraph; 2018:24.
  61. Wooller S. Bojo’s Battle of the Bulge. The Sun; 2020:2.
  62. Boyd C. Revealed: The Pancakes, Waffles and Crepes That Contain Three Times More Calories Than a Big Mac and as Much Sugar as Two Cans of Coke. Daily Mail; 2019. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7451851/The-pancakes-waffles-crepes-contain-THREE-TIMES-calories-Big-Mac.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  63. Pickles K. Coffee Shops in the Dock: Health Chiefs Warns High Street Chains’ “Little Nudges” to Buy Sweet Treats Are Fuelling Obesity Crisis. Daily Mail; 2018. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6170229/Health-chiefs-warns-high-streets-little-nudges-buy-sweet-treats-fuelling-obesity-crisis.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  64. Boyd C. Forcing Restaurants to Put Nutritional Information on Their Menus Shames Them into Providing Healthier Food, Cambridge Study Finds. Daily Mail; 2019. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7579699/Nutritional-information-menus-shames-firms-providing-healthier-food-Cambridge-study-finds.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  65. Borland S. Nation Gorging on Fast Food: Record Surge in Takeaways on Almost Every High Street is Feeding Britain’s Crippling Obesity Crisis. Daily Mail; 2018. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6309241/Record-surge-takeaways-high-street-feeding-Britains-crippling-obesity-crisis.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  66. Donnelly L. Putting Calories on the Menu Could Help to Cut Obesity. The Daily Telegraph; 2018:6.
  67. Allen V, Spencer B. Women Eat 75 Fewer Calories if Nutritional Information is Printed on Menus, Study Finds. Daily Mail; 2017. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5059079/Calorie-counts-don-t-work-men-study-finds.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  68. Borland S. Takeaway customers ordering with Deliveroo will see meal calories in a drive to encourage healthier eating. Daily Mail; 2019. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6609097/Takeaway-firm-meal-calories-drive-encourage-healthier-eating.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  69. Jackson A. Obesity and Health is Not One-Size-Fits-All – And Solutions Like Calorie Shaming Do Not Work! The Independent; 2021. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/obesity-nhs-digital-england-regulation-b1849392.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  70. The Telegraph. Letters: Archbishop of Canterbury Wants Higher Taxes, But Not for His Church. The Telegraph; 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2018/09/06/lettersarchbishop-canterbury-wants-higher-taxes-not-church/. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  71. Wilson A. Why Boris Johnson’s Obesity Campaign Could Cause Further Suffering for Those with Eating Disorders. The Independent; 2020. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/boris-johnson-better-health-obesity-campaign-coronavirus-menus-calories-b447407.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  72. Feehan K. Hospitality Bosses Say Calorie Counts on Menus “Come at the Worst Possible Time” for Pubs and Restaurants Struggling to Survive After Pandemic - As Diners Say They Feel Too Guilty to Eat Out Just a Week After Strict New Rules. Daily Mail; 2022. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10715063/Pub-restaurant-bosses-say-calorie-counts-menus-come-worst-possible-time-pandemic.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  73. Simmons E. We Don’t Need Ocado Nagging Us to Cut the Calories in Our Weekly Shop. Daily Mail; 2019. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7390539/EVE-SIMMONS-dont-need-Ocado-nagging-cut-calories-weekly-shop.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  74. The Sun. The Sun Says: Weight a Minute. The Sun; 2017:10.
  75. Finney C. Putting Calories on Menus Won’t Solve Obesity, But it Will Harm Those of Us With Eating Disorders. The Guardian; 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/01/calories-menus-obesity-eating-disorders. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  76. Gallagher S. Doesn’t Weigh Up. The Independent; 2020:34.
  77. Abdul G. ‘I’m Responsible for What I Put in My Body’: Consumers Respond to Calorie Labelling Rollout. The Guardian; 2022:27.
  78. Dollimore L. Restaurant Chains Print Calorie Counts on Menus Today: Wahaca and Wagamama Bosses and No10 Food Tsar Warn it Won’t Tackle Obesity Because it Doesn’t Show Difference Between Good and Bad Calories - As Charities Fear a Rise in Eating Disorders. Daily Mail; 2022. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10691235/Restaurant-chains-print-calorie-counts-menus-TODAY-industry-leader-say-WONT-tackle-obesity.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  79. The Daily Mail. 3 in 4 Want All Restaurants to Show Calories. Scotland: The Daily Mail; 2018:43.
  80. Stern C. Trying to Stay Healthy? Don’t Get Duped by the Menu! The Seven Sneaky Things to Avoid When Dining Out at a Restaurant, from Anything “Crispy” or “Creamy” to Misleading Salads. Daily Mail; 2018. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5935691/7-sneaky-things-things-avoid-dining-diet.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  81. Cowburn A. Government Launches New Measures to Tackle Obesity. The Independent; 2020:8.
  82. Tapsfield J. Boris Pushes Ahead with “Nanny State” Total Ban on Online Junk Food Ads After His Own Covid Battle - Amid Fears Avocados, Salmon, Marmite and Houmos Could Fall Foul of New Rules. Daily Mail; 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9565817/Ban-online-junk-food-ads-ahead.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  83. Webber E. Conservatives Struggle with Their Body Image. The Times; 2020. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/conservatives-struggle-with-their-body-image-ndvjzn79l. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  84. Matthews S. Could Adverts for Butter, Cheese and Tomato Ketchup be Banned Before 9pm? Pre-Watershed Crackdown on “HFSS” Food Commercials Will Hit Many Foods “No Reasonable Person Would Consider Unhealthy.” Daily Mail; 2020. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8564823/Say-goodbye-adverts-butter-cheese-tomato-ketchup.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  85. Donnelly L, Hymas C. Minister Triggers Backlash Against Counting Calories. The Daily Telegraph; 2018:6.
  86. Coleman C. Revealed: Shocking Truth About Those Calorie-Counted Supermarket Meals. Daily Mail; 2022:42,43.
  87. Geissler H. Cafes Urged to Show Unhealthy Food Alerts. The Daily Express; 2019:10.
  88. Harvey G. Junk Food Isn’t the Only Enemy in the Fight Against Obesity – It’s the Products Which Pretend to be Healthy. The Independent; 2020. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/obesity-crisis-calories-menus-food-industry-labelling-boris-johnson-a9641611.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  89. Smith G. Calorie counts turn dining out into a maths problem. i; 2019:22.
  90. Wallace G. Calorie Info on Menus...Help to Lose Weight or Too Much Nanny State? The Sun; 2021:26.
  91. Pearson-Jones B. Michelin-Starred Chefs Lead Backlash to Calorie Counts on Menus as They Are Introduced in Government Scheme, Saying it Encourages Eating Disorders and Will “Lead to Boring, Tick-Box Cooking.” Daily Mail; 2022. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-10669857/Chefs-lead-backlash-against-calorie-counts-menus.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  92. Wooller S. Will Putting Meals’ Calorie Counts on Menu Make You Eat More Healthily? Half of Diners Are Likely to Order More Nutritious Dishes When Restaurants Are Forced to Introduce the Measure This Week, Study Suggests. Daily Mail; 2022. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10682429/Will-putting-meals-calorie-counts-menu-make-eat-healthily.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  93. New Calorie Labelling Rules Come into Force to Improve Nation’s Health. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-calorie-labelling-rules-come-into-force-to-improve-nations-health. Published April 6, 2022. Accessed June 24, 2022.
  94. Theis DR, Adams J. Differences in energy and nutritional content of menu items served by popular UK chain restaurants with versus without voluntary menu labelling: a cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2019;14(10):e0222773. doi:1371/journal.pone.0222773
  95. Meade A. Calorie counts threaten my eating disorder recovery. i; 2021:21.
  96. Boycott-Owen M. Labelling Food with Exercise to Burn it Off “Can Curb Obesity.” The Daily Telegraph; 2019:10.
  97. Henderson E. The Cost of Counting. The Independent; 2022:3.
  98. Horton H. Calories on Restaurant Menus Will Fuel Young Peoples’ Eating Disorders, Charities and MPs Warn Government. The Telegraph; 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/08/calories-restaurant-menus-will-fuel-young-peoples-eating-disorders/. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  99. The Daily Telegraph. Fat Chance. The Daily Telegraph; 2018:21.
  100. Petter O. Calorie Counts on Restaurant Menus Reduce How Much People Eat by 12%, Study Finds. The Independent; 2018. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/calorie-counts-restaurant-menus-reduce-people-eat-study-a8230981.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  101. Shah F. Experts Warn Move to Calorie-Labelled Menus is ‘Problematic’. The Independent; 2022. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/calorie-counting-on-menu-england-experts-b2052804.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  102. Boyd C. Fury over Matt Hancock’s “un-British” Plan to Slap Calorie Counts on Beer, Wine and Spirits (But do You Really Want to Know How Fattening Your Favourite Tipple Is?). Daily Mail; 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9470273/Fury-No10s-British-plan-slap-calorie-counts-beer-wine-spirits.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  103. Dunn TN. Scoff the Menu. The Sun; 2019:16.
  104. Portman Group. About us. https://www.portmangroup.org.uk/. Accessed January 22, 2024.
  105. Grant J. Pubs Will Not be Forced to List Calories on Booze! Government Drops Obesity-Busting Plan to Put Health Warnings on Alcohol Due to Industry “On its Knees.” Daily Mail; 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9567189/Pubs-NOT-forced-list-calories-booze-Government-drops-obesity-busting-plan.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  106. Hughes L. Calorie Labelling on Menus Too ‘Burdensome’, Warns Treasury. Financial Times; 2018. https://www.ft.com/content/d1c906ee-b11a-11e8-99ca-68cf89602132. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  107. Chalmers V, Pyman T. Obese People Are More Than Three Times as Likely to Die of COVID-19 and Seven Times More Likely to Need a Ventilator, PHE Reveals as Boris Launches National Diet Crusade. Daily Mail; 2020. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8557629/Overweight-people-THREE-TIMES-likely-die-Covid-19.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  108. Smyth C. Ban on Junk Food Adverts Likely Within Two Years. The Times; 2020:11.
  109. Mandating Calorie Labelling of Food and Drink in Out-of-Home Settings. Department of Health and Social Care; 2020. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/992872/calorie-labelling-impact-assessment.pdf.
  110. Swinford S. Plan to Force All Restaurants, Cafes and Takeaways to Display Calorie Counts on Menus Sparks Cabinet Row. The Telegraph; 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/09/04/plans-force-restaurants-cafes-takeaways-display-calorie-counts/. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  111. Uttley H. Struggling Restaurants Face Fresh Hammer Blow from Menu Calorie Rule. The Telegraph; 2020. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/07/28/struggling-restaurants-face-fresh-hammer-blow-menu-calorie-rule/. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  112. Wright O. Treasury Hits Back Over Healthier Menus. The Times; 2018:4.
  113. Ellson A. Brewers Furious at “Nanny State” Plan to Put Calorie Count on Beer. The Times; 2021:8.
  114. Swan TM. Pub Landlords: Beer Pump Calorie Counts Are “A Creeping Nanny State on Steroids.” The Telegraph; 2021. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/news/creeping-nanny-state-steroids-pub-landlords-rail-against-calorie/. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  115. Donnelly L. Calorie Labels Will be Placed on Millions of Takeaway Menus. The Telegraph; 2019. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/18/calorie-labels-will-placed-millions-takeaway-menus/. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  116. Moore C. The Curse of Childhood Obesity Begins at Home. The Telegraph; 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/24/curse-childhood-obesity-begins-home/. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  117. Wheeler C. Ministers Mull Ban on Sale of Energy Drinks to Children. The Sunday Times; 2018:2.
  118. Moodie C. Calories on Menu Will Just Drive Us All Nandoolally. The Sun; 2022:15.
  119. Money-Coutts S. We’ve All Gone Barking Mad Over Our Dogs (There, I’ve Said it). The Telegraph; 2022. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2022/05/15/gone-barking-mad-dogs-said/. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  120. Odell M, Evans H. Calories on Menus? Date Night is Ruined! The Times; 2022. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/calories-on-menus-date-night-is-ruined-7vsck0zpg. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  121. Simmons E. Why Putting Calories on Restaurant Menus Fills Me With Fear. Daily Mail; 2020. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8607267/EVE-SIMMONS-putting-calories-restaurant-menus-fills-fear.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  122. Deacon M. Jamie Oliver Wants to Ban Cheap Junk Food Deals During a Cost of Living Crisis? Frankly, He Can BOGOF. The Daily Telegraph; 2022:6,7.
  123. Wilcock D, Mailonline WCF. “Sin Tax” on Sugary Fizzy Drinks Could be Extended to Chocolates with Adverts for Sugary Treats Banned and Health Warnings Slapped on Alcohol Bottles in Anti-Obesity Plans Being Considered by Boris Johnson. Daily Mail; 2020. https://www.dailyco.uk/news/article-8565253/Sin-tax-sugary-fizzy-drinks-extended-chocolates-sweets.html. Accessed May 24, 2022.
  124. LeBesco K. Neoliberalism, public health, and the moral perils of fatness. Crit Public Health. 2011;21(2):153-164. doi:1080/09581596.2010.529422
  125. Hawkins B, van Schalkwyk MC. Discourses of Balance in the Corporate Political Strategies of Health Harming Industries: A Comparative Analysis of the Gambling and Opioid Industries. In: T09P06 Commercial Political Actors in Comparative Perspective. Toronto, Canada: International Public Policy Association; 2023. https://www.ippapublicpolicy.org//file/paper/648c95b9e09c9.pdf.
  126. Room R. Addiction and personal responsibility as solutions to the contradictions of neoliberal consumerism. Crit Public Health. 2011;21(2):141-151. doi:1080/09581596.2010.529424
  127. Hay P, Mitchison D. Eating disorders and obesity: the challenge for our times. Nutrients. 2019;11(5):1055. doi:3390/nu11051055
  128. Herndon AM. Collateral damage from friendly fire?: Race, nation, class and the “war against obesity.” Soc Semiot. 2005;15(2):127-141. doi:1080/10350330500154634
  129. O'Hara L, Gregg J. The war on obesity: a social determinant of health. Health Promot J Austr. 2006;17(3):260-263. doi:1071/he06260
  130. Parkhurst J, Ettelt S, Hawkins B. Evidence Use in Health Policy Making: An International Public Policy Perspective. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2018. doi:1007/978-3-319-93467-9.
  131. Hawkins B, Parkhurst J. The ‘good governance’ of evidence in health policy. Evid Policy. 2016;12(4):575-592. doi:1332/174426415x14430058455412
  132. Petticrew M, Katikireddi SV, Knai C, et al. 'Nothing can be done until everything is done': the use of complexity arguments by food, beverage, alcohol and gambling industries. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2017;71(11):1078-1083. doi:1136/jech-2017-209710
  133. Ulucanlar S, Fooks GJ, Gilmore AB. The policy dystopia model: an interpretive analysis of tobacco industry political activity. PLoS Med. 2016;13(9):e1002125. doi:1371/journal.pmed.1002125
  134. Zelizer B. ‘Saying’ as collective practice: quoting and differential address in the news. Text - Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of Discourse. 1989;9(4):369-388. doi:1515/text.1.1989.9.4.369
  135. Nyberg D, Murray J. Corporate politics in the public sphere: corporate citizenspeak in a mass media policy contest. Bus Soc. 2020;59(4):579-611. doi:1177/0007650317746176
  136. HM Government. The Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021. No. 909. King’s Printer of Acts of Parliament; 2021. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/909/contents/made. Accessed January 28, 2024.
  137. Murray J, Nyberg D. Industry vs. government: leveraging media coverage in corporate political activity. Organ Stud. 2021;42(10):1629-1650. doi:1177/0170840620964163
  138. Wlezien C, Soroka S. Media reflect! Policy, the public, and the news. Am Polit Sci Rev. 2024;118(3):1563-1569. doi:1017/s0003055423000874
  139. Rose G. Rose’s strategy of preventive medicine. In: The Population Strategy of Prevention. Oxford University Press; 2008:129-140.
  140. Garrott K, Ogilvie D, Panter J, et al. Development and application of the Demands for Population Health Interventions (Depth) framework for categorising the agentic demands of population health interventions. BMC Glob Public Health. 2024;2(1):13. doi:1186/s44263-024-00043-8
  141. Schmidt VA. The roots of neo-liberal resilience: explaining continuity and change in background ideas in Europe’s political economy. Br J Polit Int Relat. 2016;18(2):318-334. doi:1177/1369148115612792
  142. Tobitt C, Majid A. National Press ABCs: FT Sees Biggest Month-on-Month Print Fall in February. Press Gazette; 2024. https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/media_metrics/most-popular-newspapers-uk-abc-monthly-circulation-figures-2/. Accessed March 15, 2024.
  143. Majid A. Top 50 UK News Websites: Money Saving Expert and Telegraph See Double-Digit Growth in January. Press Gazette; 2024. https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/media_metrics/most-popular-websites-news-uk-monthly-2/. Accessed March 15, 2024.
  144. Penney TL, Jones CP, Pell D, et al. Reactions of industry and associated organisations to the announcement of the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy: longitudinal thematic analysis of UK media articles, 2016-18. BMC Public Health. 2023;23(1):280. doi:1186/s12889-023-15190-0
  145. O’Sullivan T, Daniel E, Harris F. Media and the staging of policy controversy: obesity and the UK sugar tax. Crit Policy Stud. 2023;17(4):599-618. doi:1080/19460171.2023.2180401
  146. Malterud K, Siersma VD, Guassora AD. Sample size in qualitative interview studies: guided by information power. Qual Health Res. 2016;26(13):1753-1760. doi:1177/1049732315617444
  147. Roslyng MM, Dindler C. Media power and politics in framing and discourse theory. Commun Theory. 2023;33(1):11-20. doi:1093/ct/qtac012
  148. ABC Figures: Newspapers Will No Longer Have to Publish Sales. BBC News; 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52754762. Accessed March 14, 2024.
  149. Mandating Energy Labelling of Food and Drink in Out-of-Home Settings. HM Government; 2018. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/751532/impact-assessment-for-consultation-on-calorie-labelling-outside-of-the-home.pdf.
International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 30 March 2025

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 14 June 2024
  • Revise Date: 07 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 29 March 2025
  • First Publish Date: 30 March 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics