A qualitative exploration of parents’, youths’ and food establishment managers’ perceptions of beverage industry self-regulation for obesity prevention

Bibliographic Data

ID15092243
AuthorsLaura M Bogart (0000-0003-3182-5542, RAND Corporation, corresponding author), Gabriela Castro (0000-0003-2521-1923, RAND Corporation), Deborah A Cohen (0000-0002-6016-8126, RAND Corporation)
Year2019
Volume22
Issue5
Pages805-813
Publication date2019-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980018003865
PMID30755283
OpenAlexW2912558519
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited27

Objective We aimed to explore the range of stakeholders’ perceptions of the Balance Calories Initiative (BCI), under which the American Beverage Association pledged to decrease per capita US consumption of beverage energy by 20 % by 2025. Design Semi-structured cross-sectional interviews were conducted in 2017. Setting Participants were recruited from communities targeted by the BCI (Montgomery, AL; North Mississippi Delta, MS; Eastern Los Angeles, CA). Participants A total of thirty-three parents and thirty-eight youths aged 10–17 years were recruited through youth-serving organizations, street intercept and snowball sampling; sixteen store/restaurant managers were recruited at businesses. Participants were asked about their awareness of the BCI. Parents and youths were asked to ‘think aloud’ as they viewed BCI messages (e.g. ‘Balance What You Eat, Drink, and Do’) and managers were asked about beverage marketing. Results Twelve parents and twenty-four youths had seen BCI messages; only four managers were aware of the BCI. Many parents and youths showed some misunderstanding of BCI messages (e.g. that they should drink more sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) or they needed to equalize healthy and unhealthy beverage intake). Only one manager had communicated with beverage companies about the BCI. Conclusions We found mixed comprehension and low awareness of BCI messages in communities targeted by the American Beverage Association for reduced SSB consumption. Industry self-regulation attempts to reduce SSB consumption may have limited effectiveness if stakeholder input is not addressed. Public health practitioners should be aware of the need to address youths’ and parents’ misunderstandings about SSB consumption, especially in BCI-targeted communities

Advertising · Business · Consumption (sociology · Environmental health · Perception · Political science · Public relations · Qualitative research · Snowball sampling · Stakeholder · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology