Childhood obesity policies - mighty concerns, meek reactions

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Standard

Childhood obesity policies - mighty concerns, meek reactions. / Vallgårda, Signild.

In: Obesity Reviews, Vol. 19, No. 3, 03.2018, p. 295-301.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Vallgårda, S 2018, 'Childhood obesity policies - mighty concerns, meek reactions', Obesity Reviews, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 295-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12639

APA

Vallgårda, S. (2018). Childhood obesity policies - mighty concerns, meek reactions. Obesity Reviews, 19(3), 295-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12639

Vancouver

Vallgårda S. Childhood obesity policies - mighty concerns, meek reactions. Obesity Reviews. 2018 Mar;19(3):295-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12639

Author

Vallgårda, Signild. / Childhood obesity policies - mighty concerns, meek reactions. In: Obesity Reviews. 2018 ; Vol. 19, No. 3. pp. 295-301.

Bibtex

@article{563eac80a09a4a7e9a915a03d9a1142e,
title = "Childhood obesity policies - mighty concerns, meek reactions",
abstract = "Background: The increasing number of children defined as overweight or obeseis causing concern among politicians and health advocates; several countries havelaunched policies addressing the issue.Method: The paper presents an analysis of how the childhood obesity is defined,explained and suggested policies to address the problem from the WHO, the EU,Canada, England and New Zealand.Results: Considering the dramatic language used when describing childhood obe-sity, the proposed interventions are modest. Either the politicians do not considerthe problem that great after all, or other concerns, such as the freedom of the foodand drink industry and local authorities, are seen as more important. The causesidentified are multiple and varied, including the physical and commercial environ-ment, whereas the interventions primarily address the information level of the pop-ulation, placing responsibility on the shoulders of the parents. Only the WorldHealth Organization argues that statutory measures are required, and the EnglishGovernment suggests one: a levy on sugary drinks. Otherwise, local authorities,schools and the industry are expected to act on a voluntary basis. Very little is ex-plicitly substantiated by evidence, and the evidence cited is sometimesmisinterpreted or disregarded.Conclusion: There is a discrepancy between how the problem of childhood obe-sity is presented as alarming and the modest measures suggested.",
keywords = "Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, obesity, childhood, policies, Obesity, childhood, policies, evidence, Responsibility",
author = "Signild Vallg{\aa}rda",
year = "2018",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1111/obr.12639",
language = "English",
volume = "19",
pages = "295--301",
journal = "Obesity Reviews",
issn = "1467-7881",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Childhood obesity policies - mighty concerns, meek reactions

AU - Vallgårda, Signild

PY - 2018/3

Y1 - 2018/3

N2 - Background: The increasing number of children defined as overweight or obeseis causing concern among politicians and health advocates; several countries havelaunched policies addressing the issue.Method: The paper presents an analysis of how the childhood obesity is defined,explained and suggested policies to address the problem from the WHO, the EU,Canada, England and New Zealand.Results: Considering the dramatic language used when describing childhood obe-sity, the proposed interventions are modest. Either the politicians do not considerthe problem that great after all, or other concerns, such as the freedom of the foodand drink industry and local authorities, are seen as more important. The causesidentified are multiple and varied, including the physical and commercial environ-ment, whereas the interventions primarily address the information level of the pop-ulation, placing responsibility on the shoulders of the parents. Only the WorldHealth Organization argues that statutory measures are required, and the EnglishGovernment suggests one: a levy on sugary drinks. Otherwise, local authorities,schools and the industry are expected to act on a voluntary basis. Very little is ex-plicitly substantiated by evidence, and the evidence cited is sometimesmisinterpreted or disregarded.Conclusion: There is a discrepancy between how the problem of childhood obe-sity is presented as alarming and the modest measures suggested.

AB - Background: The increasing number of children defined as overweight or obeseis causing concern among politicians and health advocates; several countries havelaunched policies addressing the issue.Method: The paper presents an analysis of how the childhood obesity is defined,explained and suggested policies to address the problem from the WHO, the EU,Canada, England and New Zealand.Results: Considering the dramatic language used when describing childhood obe-sity, the proposed interventions are modest. Either the politicians do not considerthe problem that great after all, or other concerns, such as the freedom of the foodand drink industry and local authorities, are seen as more important. The causesidentified are multiple and varied, including the physical and commercial environ-ment, whereas the interventions primarily address the information level of the pop-ulation, placing responsibility on the shoulders of the parents. Only the WorldHealth Organization argues that statutory measures are required, and the EnglishGovernment suggests one: a levy on sugary drinks. Otherwise, local authorities,schools and the industry are expected to act on a voluntary basis. Very little is ex-plicitly substantiated by evidence, and the evidence cited is sometimesmisinterpreted or disregarded.Conclusion: There is a discrepancy between how the problem of childhood obe-sity is presented as alarming and the modest measures suggested.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - obesity

KW - childhood

KW - policies

KW - Obesity

KW - childhood

KW - policies

KW - evidence

KW - Responsibility

U2 - 10.1111/obr.12639

DO - 10.1111/obr.12639

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29265683

VL - 19

SP - 295

EP - 301

JO - Obesity Reviews

JF - Obesity Reviews

SN - 1467-7881

IS - 3

ER -

ID: 188405775