Australians support for policy initiatives addressing unhealthy diet: a population-based study

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dc.contributor.authorGupta, A.
dc.contributor.authorRaine, K.D.
dc.contributor.authorMoynihan, P.
dc.contributor.authorPeres, M.A.
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractTo inform public health policy implementation in Australia, our study investigated the level of public support for six policy initiatives addressing unhealthy diet. The policy initiatives included taxing soft drinks and energy drinks, taxing less healthy food and beverage purchases, zoning to restrict the supply of junk foods near schools, prohibiting advertising and promotion of less healthy food and beverages to children under the age of 16 and restricting sugar-sweetened beverages from vending machines in schools, and public places. Data from a cross-sectional population-based study for 4040 Australians aged 15+ years, were analysed. A high overall support across all policy initiatives was observed. Nearly three-quarter of public support was observed for policy initiatives targeting children (zoning to restrict the supply of junk food near schools, prohibiting advertising and promotion of less healthy food and beverages to children under the age of 16 and restricting sugars-sweetened beverages from vending machines in schools), and half of Australians supported policy initiatives of taxing soft drinks and energy drinks and taxing less healthy food and beverage purchases. Australian women and those with tertiary level of education were more likely to support public health initiatives targeting children and all policy initiatives respectively. Interestingly, young adults expressed low level of support for all policy initiatives. The study demonstrated considerable public support for policy initiatives focussed on protecting children from unhealthy diet in Australia. Framing, designing and implementing policies targeting children is potentially a good starting point for policymakers to create a health promoting food environment.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityAdyya Gupta, Kim D. Raine, Paula Moynihan, and Marco A. Peres
dc.identifier.citationHealth Promotion International, 2023; 38(3):1-14
dc.identifier.doi10.1093/heapro/daad036
dc.identifier.issn0957-4824
dc.identifier.issn1460-2245
dc.identifier.orcidMoynihan, P. [0000-0002-5015-5620]
dc.identifier.orcidPeres, M.A. [0000-0002-8329-2808]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/138691
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherOxford University Press (OUP)
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1115649
dc.rights© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daad036
dc.subjecthealth policy
dc.subjectpublic health
dc.subjectpublic opinion
dc.subjectsugar tax
dc.subjectdiet
dc.subject.meshHumans
dc.subject.meshDiet
dc.subject.meshCross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.meshBeverages
dc.subject.meshChild
dc.subject.meshAustralia
dc.subject.meshFemale
dc.subject.meshYoung Adult
dc.subject.meshPolicy
dc.titleAustralians support for policy initiatives addressing unhealthy diet: a population-based study
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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