Barriers and opportunities to restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in Nepal: a policy analysis
Abstract Background Marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or salt (“unhealthy foods”) to children is contributing to increasing child obesity. However, many countries have not implemented WHO recommendations to restrict marketing of un...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11257-y |
| _version_ | 1819103062392832000 |
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| author | Laura Fisher Minakshi Dahal Sarah Hawkes Mahesh Puri Kent Buse |
| author_facet | Laura Fisher Minakshi Dahal Sarah Hawkes Mahesh Puri Kent Buse |
| author_sort | Laura Fisher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or salt (“unhealthy foods”) to children is contributing to increasing child obesity. However, many countries have not implemented WHO recommendations to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to children. We sought to understand the absence of marketing restrictions and identify potential strategic actions to develop and implement such restrictions in Nepal. Methods Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was based on Baker et al.’s 18 factor-framework for understanding what drives political commitment to nutrition, organised by five categories: Actors; Institutions; Political and societal contexts; Knowledge, evidence and framing; Capacities and resources. Results All factors in Baker et al.’s framework were reported to be acting largely as barriers to Nepal developing and implementing marketing restrictions. Six factors were identified by the highest number of respondents: the threat of private sector interference in policy-making; lack of international actor support; absence of well-designed and enacted policies and legislation; lack of political commitment to regulate; insufficient mobilisation of existing evidence to spur action and lack of national evidence to guide regulatory design; and weak implementation capacity. Opportunities for progress were identified as Nepal’s ability to combat private sector interference - as previously demonstrated in tobacco control. Conclusions This is the first study conducted in Nepal examining the lack of restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children. Our findings reflect the manifestation of power in the policy process. The absence of civil society and a multi-stakeholder coalition demanding change on marketing of unhealthy food to children, the threat of private sector interference in introducing marketing restrictions, the promotion of norms and narratives around modernity, consumption and the primary role of the individual in regulating diet - all have helped create a policy vacuum on marketing restrictions. We propose that stakeholders focus on five strategic actions, including: developing a multi-stakeholder coalition to put and keep marketing restrictions on the health agenda; framing the need for marketing restrictions as critical to protect child rights and government regulation as the solution; and increasing support, particularly through developing more robust global policy guidance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:44:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce6f175db2e147b39081f16ea41816ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:44:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce6f175db2e147b39081f16ea41816ef2022-12-21T18:43:07ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-07-0121111310.1186/s12889-021-11257-yBarriers and opportunities to restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in Nepal: a policy analysisLaura Fisher0Minakshi Dahal1Sarah Hawkes2Mahesh Puri3Kent Buse4Indo-Pacific Centre for Health SecurityCenter for Research on Environment, Health and Population Activities (CREHPA)Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College LondonCenter for Research on Environment, Health and Population Activities (CREHPA)Global Healthier Societies Program, The George InstituteAbstract Background Marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or salt (“unhealthy foods”) to children is contributing to increasing child obesity. However, many countries have not implemented WHO recommendations to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to children. We sought to understand the absence of marketing restrictions and identify potential strategic actions to develop and implement such restrictions in Nepal. Methods Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was based on Baker et al.’s 18 factor-framework for understanding what drives political commitment to nutrition, organised by five categories: Actors; Institutions; Political and societal contexts; Knowledge, evidence and framing; Capacities and resources. Results All factors in Baker et al.’s framework were reported to be acting largely as barriers to Nepal developing and implementing marketing restrictions. Six factors were identified by the highest number of respondents: the threat of private sector interference in policy-making; lack of international actor support; absence of well-designed and enacted policies and legislation; lack of political commitment to regulate; insufficient mobilisation of existing evidence to spur action and lack of national evidence to guide regulatory design; and weak implementation capacity. Opportunities for progress were identified as Nepal’s ability to combat private sector interference - as previously demonstrated in tobacco control. Conclusions This is the first study conducted in Nepal examining the lack of restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children. Our findings reflect the manifestation of power in the policy process. The absence of civil society and a multi-stakeholder coalition demanding change on marketing of unhealthy food to children, the threat of private sector interference in introducing marketing restrictions, the promotion of norms and narratives around modernity, consumption and the primary role of the individual in regulating diet - all have helped create a policy vacuum on marketing restrictions. We propose that stakeholders focus on five strategic actions, including: developing a multi-stakeholder coalition to put and keep marketing restrictions on the health agenda; framing the need for marketing restrictions as critical to protect child rights and government regulation as the solution; and increasing support, particularly through developing more robust global policy guidance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11257-yMarketingUnhealthy foodsChild obesityNepalPolicy analysisCommercial determinants of health |
| spellingShingle | Laura Fisher Minakshi Dahal Sarah Hawkes Mahesh Puri Kent Buse Barriers and opportunities to restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in Nepal: a policy analysis BMC Public Health Marketing Unhealthy foods Child obesity Nepal Policy analysis Commercial determinants of health |
| title | Barriers and opportunities to restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in Nepal: a policy analysis |
| title_full | Barriers and opportunities to restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in Nepal: a policy analysis |
| title_fullStr | Barriers and opportunities to restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in Nepal: a policy analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers and opportunities to restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in Nepal: a policy analysis |
| title_short | Barriers and opportunities to restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in Nepal: a policy analysis |
| title_sort | barriers and opportunities to restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in nepal a policy analysis |
| topic | Marketing Unhealthy foods Child obesity Nepal Policy analysis Commercial determinants of health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11257-y |
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