Rudd Center Recent Publications
Healthy Lifestyle Messages in Ads for Unhealthy Food and Drinks
Are Not the Way to Teach Children About Good Health
Food and beverage
companies claim that healthy lifestyle messages, such as promoting
physical activity and good eating habits, in advertising to children
teaches them about health and nutrition.
However, a new study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut, published Oct. 27 in Pediatric Obesity,
found that children who viewed TV commercials for unhealthy food and
drinks that included healthy lifestyle messages rated the products as
more healthful compared to children who saw commercials for similar
products with a different message.
"Our results confirming
'health halo' effects from healthy messages in child-directed
advertising for unhealthy food and drinks are cause for public health
concern," said Jennifer Harris, Director of Marketing Initiatives for
the UConn Rudd Center, and lead author of the study. "This common
practice likely benefits food companies by making unhealthy products
seem healthier to children, but we found no evidence that they teach
children about good health or nutrition."
Study Shows Self-Directed Weight Stigma is Prevalent in U.S. Adults
Negative stereotypes
and biases against people with obesity are widespread and this weight
stigma can be harmful for physical and emotional health.
Distinct from experiencing weight stigma, many individuals who are
targets of bias also internalize the stigma directed towards them,
blaming themselves for the stigma and unfair treatment they experience
because of their weight. Internalized weight bias has been linked to
concerning health consequences, but little is known about the prevalence
of this self-directed stigma – until now.
A new study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut, published Oct. 30 in the journal Obesity, shows
that internalized weight bias is prevalent among U.S. women and men,
with high levels of internalized weight stigma in approximately 1 in 5
adults in the general population and as many as 52 percent of adults
with obesity.
“Our findings indicate that internalized weight bias is common in the
general population, and present among individuals across a range of body
weights. Adults with high levels of weight bias internalization are
more likely to be white, have a higher body-mass index, lower education
and income, and be actively trying to lose weight,” said Rebecca Puhl,
Deputy Director of the UConn Rudd Center, Professor of Human Development
and Family Studies at the University of Connecticut, and the study’s
lead author. “Furthermore, people with high levels of internalization
had experienced considerable weight stigma in their lives, especially
being teased or treated unfairly by others because of their weight,”
Puhl said.
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Rudd Center in the News
Rudd Center Deputy Director Rebecca Puhl's study showing the prevalence
of self-directed weight stigma among U.S. adults was featured in an Oct.
30 article carried by the Hearst Connecticut newspapers: UConn Study: 1 in 5 adults turn weight bias inward.
UConn Today carried articles on our study of "health halo" effects of
healthy lifestyle messages included in TV ads for unhealthy foods
directed at children and on our study showing the prevalence of
self-directed weight stigma among U.S. adults:
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Obesity Care Week 2017
The 3rd Annual National Obesity Care Week (NOCW), Oct. 29 through
Nov. 4, seeks to ignite a national movement to ensure anyone affected by
obesity receives respectful and comprehensive care. The UConn Rudd
Center for Food Policy and Obesity is proud to join the Campaign, which
was founded by The Obesity Society, the Obesity Action Coalition,
Strategies to Overcome and Prevent Obesity Alliance and the American
Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
All NOCW supporters recognize the 5 Reasons to Care:
- Obesity is a serious disease
- Weight bias is faced by many
- Healthcare providers need to have positive, helpful conversations about weight with their patients
- Science-based weight management options are available for treatment
- We need your help passing the 2017 Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA)
More information about National Obesity Care Week and the Take 5 Pledge, including information and resources, is available on www.ObesityCareWeek.org.
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Staff Spotlight
This month we begin a feature to introduce our staff and let you in on
some of their personal thoughts on our mission and research - even what
they like to eat!
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Mary Himmelstein, Postdoctoral Fellow
Grew up in: Northern Virginia
Area of Rudd Center research/work: Weight stigma
One way we can all reduce harm from weight bias to individuals with obesity: Examine
our own biases and be aware of them; treat everyone with respect
regardless of body size; don't assume body size implies other things
about a person's health.
Favorite healthy snack: Pistachios or lentils
Favorite place to eat with friends: Bartaco, West Hartford, CT
Guilty pleasure: Watching Outlander; reading bad teen fiction
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Margaret Read, Research Associate
Grew up in: Baton Rouge, LA
Area of Rudd Center research/work: Schools and food pantries/food banks
One word to describe the food system you're trying to create for kids: Equitable
Favorite healthy snack: Guacamole and plantain chips
Favorite place to eat with friends: Momo's Sushi, Milford, CT
Guilty pleasure: Watching Real Housewives
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Urge FDA Not to Delay Updated Nutrition Facts Label
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Resources to Address Weight Bias
Improving Obesity Care Continuing Medical Education (CME) Course
Developed
by the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity and the University
of Connecticut School of Medicine, this free, one-hour, online
accredited course is for health professionals (clinicians, nurses,
social workers and dietitians, and trainees) to improve the quality of
care for patients with overweight and obesity, and help reduce weight
stigmatization in clinical settings.
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Rudd Center Legislation Database
Our
database includes the latest legislation and policies from the
2017 state legislative and federal congressional sessions. This database
tracks state and federal policies related to access to healthy food,
breastfeeding, farms and gardens, school nutrition, physical activity,
food assistance programs, food marketing to children, menu and package
labeling, and weight bias. Check it out here and request to receive our monthly legislation email update here. |
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