Children's views suggest obesity policies may have limited benefits and raise concerns about stigma

Public health obesity policies have increased in recent years as governments attempt to curb rising obesity rates. However, focus group discussions with children in England suggest they may view these policies as more harmful than helpful.

In England, more than one third of children (10–11 years) have excess weight or are living with obesity. The government has undertaken many approaches in an attempt to reduce the prevalence of obesity in England. We sought to speak with children on their own experiences and opinions on some of these obesity policies.

Our researchers conducted focus group discussions with a total of 80 children in Years 5–8 in the south-east of England. The majority of these children had a BMI within a healthy weight range. We talked with these children about their thoughts on two important policies: multiple traffic light labels (MTL) and calories on menus, and the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP).

Children perceived no clear benefits from MTL, calories on menus, or the NCMP. They rarely considered MTL or calorie information when making food choices. Children largely did not understand the reasoning behind the NCMP, and a few experienced stress and were concerned about bullying. When asked about the wider food environment, children found brand advertising and delivery services particularly engaging. Children also described social media as promoting a ‘thin ideal,’ contributing to increased weight dissatisfaction.

Although the children did not name any positive associations with public health policies, the results of this study demonstrate the need to protect children from food marketing and social media exposure. While front-of-pack labelling and menu calorie information may help consumers make informed choices, children’s perspectives suggest these are limited in the face of strong marketing appeal. NCMP may also benefit from clearer communication and assurances of privacy for participating children.

Read the full paper here.