UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

Eighty-five percent of parents surveyed about their views on food marketing to children agreed that companies should reduce advertising to unhealthy food to their kids, according to a new report from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut. Support for policies to promote healthy eating habits for their children in the media, schools and communities increased between 2012 and 2015 among parents surveyed for this study, with black and Hispanic parents significantly more likely to express support than white parents. The new report updates findings from a 2012 Rudd Center report with new data collected from 2012 to 2015.

Body shaming and weight stigma have become commonplace in American society. Whether highlighted in the news or in research studies, it’s clear that there is widespread negative bias against people with overweight or obesity. Unfortunately, children are vulnerable targets of weight stigma. In fact, Weight Bullying is one of the most prevalent forms of bullying reported by youth.

Full citation: Dalton MA, Longacre MR, Drake KM, et al. Child-targeted fast-food television advertising exposure is linked with fast-food intake among pre-school children. Public Health Nutr. 2017;20(9):1548-1556. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980017000520

Full citation: Boyland EJ, Harris JL. Regulation of food marketing to children: are statutory or industry self-governed systems effective?. Public Health Nutr. 2017;20(5):761-764. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980017000465

Full citation: Puhl RM, Himmelstein MS, Armstrong SC, Kingsford E. Adolescent preferences and reactions to language about body weight. Int J Obes (Lond). 2017;41(7):1062-1065. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.55

Full citation: Hilbert A, Hübner C, Schmutzer G, Danielsdottir S, Brähler E, Puhl R. Public Support for Weight-Related Antidiscrimination Laws and Policies. Obes Facts. 2017;10(2):101-111. https://doi.org/10.1159/000456012

Residents of one Maryland county bought fewer sugary drinks after a campaign to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages that included policy changes and public health outreach efforts, according to a new study from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut.

Full citation: Schwartz MB, Just DR, Chriqui JF, Ammerman AS. Appetite self-regulation: Environmental and policy influences on eating behaviors. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017;25 Suppl 1:S26-S38. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21770

Full citation: Puhl RM, Quinn DM, Weisz BM, Suh YJ. The Role of Stigma in Weight Loss Maintenance Among U.S. Adults. Ann Behav Med. 2017;51(5):754-763. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-017-9898-9