Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34141852›Full record

ArticleSSM - population health2021

Media representations of opposition to the 'junk food advertising ban' on the Transport for London (TfL) network: A thematic content analysis of UK news and trade press.

Claire Thompson, Christelle Clary, Vanessa Er, Jean Adams, Emma Boyland, Thomas Burgoine, Laura Cornelsen, Frank de Vocht, Matt Egan, Amelia A Lake and 6 more

Abstract readNews
In one paragraph

Article in SSM - population health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Claire ThompsonCentre for Research in Public Health and Community Care, School of Health and Social Work, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom.
Christelle ClaryPopulation Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Vanessa ErPopulation Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Jean AdamsCentre for Diet & Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Emma BoylandDepartment of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Thomas BurgoineCentre for Diet & Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Laura CornelsenPopulation Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Frank de VochtPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
Matt EganDepartment of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Amelia A LakeCentre for Public Health Research, School of Health and Life Sciences Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
Karen LockDepartment of Health Services Research & Policy, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Oliver MyttonCentre for Diet & Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Mark PetticrewDepartment of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Martin WhiteCentre for Diet & Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Amy YauPopulation Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Steven CumminsPopulation Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_UU_00006/7Medical Research Council MC_UU_12015/6Medical Research Council MR/K023187/1Medical Research Council MR/K02325X/1Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdvertising of less healthy foods and drinks is hypothesised to be associated with obesity in adults and children. In February 2019, Transport for London implemented restrictions on advertisements for foods and beverages high in fat, salt or sugar across its network as part of a city-wide strategy to tackle childhood obesity. The policy was extensively debated in the press. This paper identifies arguments for and against the restrictions. Focusing on arguments against the restrictions, it then goes on to deconstruct the discursive strategies underpinning them.

methodsA qualitative thematic content analysis of media coverage of the restrictions (the 'ban') in UK newspapers and trade press was followed by a document analysis of arguments against the ban. A search period of March 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019 covered: (i) the launch of the public consultation on the ban in May 2018; (ii) the announcement of the ban in November 2018; and (iii) its implementation in February 2019. A systematic search of printed and online publications in English distributed in the UK or published on UK-specific websites identified 152 articles.

resultsArguments in favour of the ban focused on inequalities and childhood obesity. Arguments against the ban centred on two claims: that childhood obesity was not the 'right' priority; and that an advertising ban was not an effective way to address childhood obesity. These claims were justified via three discursive approaches: (i) claiming more 'important' priorities for action; (ii) disputing the science behind the ban; (iii) emphasising potential financial costs of the ban.

conclusionThe discursive tactics used in media sources to argue against the ban draw on frames widely used by unhealthy commodities industries in response to structural public health interventions. Our analyses highlight the need for interventions to be framed in ways that can pre-emptively counter common criticisms.

Indexed as

AdvertisingChildhood obesityMediaRegulation

Identifiers

PMID34141852
PMCPMC8184652

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.