An audit of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network: regulation and policy implications
Abstract Background Increased marketing of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods has been identified as a driver of the global obesity epidemic and a priority area for preventative efforts. Local and international research has focused on the unhealthiness of television advertising, with limited research...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4433-2 |
| _version_ | 1819136263721058304 |
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| author | Emma Sainsbury Stephen Colagiuri Roger Magnusson |
| author_facet | Emma Sainsbury Stephen Colagiuri Roger Magnusson |
| author_sort | Emma Sainsbury |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Increased marketing of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods has been identified as a driver of the global obesity epidemic and a priority area for preventative efforts. Local and international research has focused on the unhealthiness of television advertising, with limited research into the growing outdoor advertising industry. This study aimed to examine the extent of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network, and to assess the nutritional quality of advertised products against the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Methods All 178 train stations on the Sydney metropolitan train network were surveyed in summer and winter. A survey tool was developed to collect information for all advertisements on and immediately surrounding the train station. Information included product, brand, location and advertisement format. Advertisements were coded by nutrition category, product subcategory and size. Chi-square, ANOVA and ANCOVA tests were conducted to test for differences in the amount of food and beverage advertising by season and area socioeconomic status (SES). Results Of 6931 advertisements identified, 1915 (27.6%) were promoting a food or beverage. The majority of food and beverage advertisements were for unhealthy products; 84.3% were classified as discretionary, 8.0% core and 7.6% miscellaneous. Snack foods and sugar-sweetened beverages were the most frequently advertised products, regardless of season. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were the largest advertisers on the network, contributing 10.9% and 6.5% of total advertisements respectively. There was no difference in the mean number of food and beverage advertisements by area SES, but the proportion of advertising that was for discretionary foods was highest in low SES areas (41.9%, p < 0.001). Conclusions The results indicate that, irrespective of season, food and beverage advertisements across the Sydney metropolitan train network are overwhelmingly for unhealthy (discretionary) products. The results of this study highlight the inadequacy of Australia’s voluntary self-regulatory system in protecting members of the public from exposure to unhealthy food advertising. Regulatory action by government, such as placing a cap on the amount of unhealthy food advertisements, or requiring a proportion of all advertising to be for the promotion of healthy foods, is required to address this issue. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T10:32:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2d4c59c46d8a450484d3c2893efc2a5b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T10:32:12Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2d4c59c46d8a450484d3c2893efc2a5b2022-12-21T18:29:16ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582017-05-0117111110.1186/s12889-017-4433-2An audit of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network: regulation and policy implicationsEmma Sainsbury0Stephen Colagiuri1Roger Magnusson2The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneyThe Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneySydney Law School, The University of SydneyAbstract Background Increased marketing of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods has been identified as a driver of the global obesity epidemic and a priority area for preventative efforts. Local and international research has focused on the unhealthiness of television advertising, with limited research into the growing outdoor advertising industry. This study aimed to examine the extent of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network, and to assess the nutritional quality of advertised products against the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Methods All 178 train stations on the Sydney metropolitan train network were surveyed in summer and winter. A survey tool was developed to collect information for all advertisements on and immediately surrounding the train station. Information included product, brand, location and advertisement format. Advertisements were coded by nutrition category, product subcategory and size. Chi-square, ANOVA and ANCOVA tests were conducted to test for differences in the amount of food and beverage advertising by season and area socioeconomic status (SES). Results Of 6931 advertisements identified, 1915 (27.6%) were promoting a food or beverage. The majority of food and beverage advertisements were for unhealthy products; 84.3% were classified as discretionary, 8.0% core and 7.6% miscellaneous. Snack foods and sugar-sweetened beverages were the most frequently advertised products, regardless of season. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were the largest advertisers on the network, contributing 10.9% and 6.5% of total advertisements respectively. There was no difference in the mean number of food and beverage advertisements by area SES, but the proportion of advertising that was for discretionary foods was highest in low SES areas (41.9%, p < 0.001). Conclusions The results indicate that, irrespective of season, food and beverage advertisements across the Sydney metropolitan train network are overwhelmingly for unhealthy (discretionary) products. The results of this study highlight the inadequacy of Australia’s voluntary self-regulatory system in protecting members of the public from exposure to unhealthy food advertising. Regulatory action by government, such as placing a cap on the amount of unhealthy food advertisements, or requiring a proportion of all advertising to be for the promotion of healthy foods, is required to address this issue.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4433-2AustraliaAdvertisementsFoodBeverageTrain stationsUnhealthy |
| spellingShingle | Emma Sainsbury Stephen Colagiuri Roger Magnusson An audit of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network: regulation and policy implications BMC Public Health Australia Advertisements Food Beverage Train stations Unhealthy |
| title | An audit of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network: regulation and policy implications |
| title_full | An audit of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network: regulation and policy implications |
| title_fullStr | An audit of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network: regulation and policy implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | An audit of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network: regulation and policy implications |
| title_short | An audit of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network: regulation and policy implications |
| title_sort | audit of food and beverage advertising on the sydney metropolitan train network regulation and policy implications |
| topic | Australia Advertisements Food Beverage Train stations Unhealthy |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4433-2 |
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