2026
Reports
Improving How Physical Activity is Assessed in Primary Care: Integrated Summary Briefing
Laurie Davies, Disha Dhar, Barbara Hanratty, Kimberly Lazo Green
Tools to Support Measurement of Physical Activity in Primary Care Settings Expert Roundtable Report
NIHR Policy Research Units in Healthy Weight and Healthy Ageing
Quantifying the health and social impacts of obesity during childhood: scoping review and mapping of outcomes
Jessica Packer, Simon Russell, Oliver Mytton
Retailer-Focused Marketing Strategies and Consumer Behaviours: A Rapid AI-Assisted Review of Reviews
Simon Russell, Jessica Packer, Disha Dhar, Oliver Mytton
Brief Tools for the Assessment of Physical Activity in Primary Care Settings: An ExpertInformed Narrative Review
Disha Dhar, Kimberly Lazo Green, Jessica Packer, Oliver Mytton, Simon Russell
Motivations and Barriers Behind Voluntary Food Industry Initiatives to Improve Health in the UK: An AI-Assisted Rapid Review
Simon Russell, Jessica Packer, Disha Dhar, Oliver Mytton
Papers
Assessing the effectiveness of healthy weight interventions in the early years of childhood: a systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence from high-income countries
Academic Paper
Disha Dhar, Lucy Karwatowska, Maria Sifaki, Semina Michalopoulou, Claire Stansfield, Jessica Packer, Simon Russell
2025
Reports
Report on location-based promotions of less healthy food in supermarkets
Policy Briefing Report
Suzanne Hill, Franziska Marcheselli
Papers
Assessing the evidence for health benefits of low-level weight loss: A Systematic Review
Academic Paper
Disha Dhar, Jessica Packer, Semina Michalopoulou, Joana Cruz, Claire Stansfield, Russell Viner, Oliver Mytton, Simon Russell
Childrens’ and adolescents’ responses to public health obesity policies and weight monitoring in England: A qualitative study
Academic Paper
Rana Conway, Tiffany Denning, Ivonne Derks, Francesca Solmi, Dasha Nicholls, Andrew Steptoe, Clare Llewellyn
How labelling of commercial infant food impacts parents’ beliefs about sugar content and related purchasing and feeding decisions: a scoping review
Academic Paper
Rana Conway, Tiffany Denning, Andrew Steptoe, Clare Llewellyn
2024
Papers
The Impact of Non-Fiscal Mandatory and Voluntary Policies and Interventions on the Reformulation of Food and Beverage Products: A Systematic Review (PDF)
Academic Paper
Jessica Packer, Semina Michalopoulou, Joana Cruz, Disha Dhar, Claire Stansfield, Helena Kaczmarska, Russell M. Viner, Oliver Mytton, Simon J. Russell
Reports
Assessing the feasibility of RealityMine to capture digital advertising and elucidating the extent and nature of advertising of unhealthy commodities to children and parents
Simon Russell, Andrew Hamilton, Jessica Packer, Clare Llewellyn, Emma Boyland
Protocols
29 May 2024
Assessing the effectiveness of policies and interventions that promote purchasing and consumption of minimally processed foods
PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews
Disha Dhar, Lucy Karwatowska, Jessica Packer, Oliver Mytton, Clare Stansfield, Simon Russell
10 May 2024
A systematic review of the evidence for how healthy eating strategies in convenience stores affect diet-related outcomes across high-income countries.
PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews
Olubunmi Kolawole, Christina Vogel
29 February 2024
Healthy Weight Policy Research Unit WP1: Quantifying the health and social impacts of obesity during childhood
Protocol for phase 1: scoping review
Jessica Packer, Simon Russell, Russell Viner, Oliver Mytton
2024
Reports
Modelling the potential impact on inequalities of population interventions on maternal smoking in pregnancy: Evidence from the Born in Bradford cohort (December 2023)
Steven Hope, Simon Russell, Joana Da Cruz, Bianca De Stavola, Mortiz Herle, Russell Viner
Longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dietary purchasing choices of British households
Britta Augsburg, Christine Farquharson, Andrew McKendrick
Assessing the evidence for health benefits of low levels of weight loss: a systematic review
Descriptive table for all included studies
Jessica Packer, Disha Dhar, Semina Michalopoulou, Joana Cruz, Simon Russell
Feeding our families in a cost-of-living crisis: parents’ experiences and ideas for change
Charlotte Gallagher Squires, Olubunmi Kolawole, Anna Isaacs, Christina Vogel
Quantifying the impact of Body Mass Index on employment: A brief report
Inclusion criteria, flow chart and tables of included studies
Simon Russell, Semina Michalopoulou, Aswathikutty Gireesh, Jessica Packer, Disha Dhar, Russell Viner, Oliver Mytton
Papers
Assessing the impact of obesity interventions in the early years: a systematic review of UK-based studies
Semina Michalopoulou, Maria Sifaki, Jessica Packer, Julie Lanigan, Clare Stansfield, Russell Viner, Simon Russell
2023
Reports
Calorie labelling on alcoholic beverages: opinions, drinking impacts and behaviour changes
Florence Sheen, Rana Conway, Andrew Steptoe
Assessing the effectiveness of obesity interventions in the early years: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the international evidence
Semina Michalopoulou, Maria Sifaki, Jessica Packer, Julie Lanigan, Clare Stansfield, Russell Viner, Simon Russell
Food purchasing behaviours across ethnic groups in the UK
Britta Augsburg, Laura van der Erve
Estimating inequalities in childhood obesity and modelling the potential impact on inequalities of population interventions on early years risk factors: Evidence from UK cohort studies (July 2023)
Steven Hope, Simon Russell, Joana Da Cruz, Bianca De Stavola, Mortiz Herle, Maria Sifaki, Sarah Crozier, Janis Baird, Keith Godfrey, Russell Viner
Papers
Estimating the effects of preventive and weight-management interventions on the prevalence of childhood obesity in England: a modelling study
Simon Russell, Oliver Mytton, Russell Viner
Content analysis of on-package formula labelling in Great Britain: use of marketing messages on infant, follow-on, growing-up and specialist formula
Rana Conway, Sara Esser, Andrew Steptoe, Andrea Smith, Clare Llewellyn
2022
Abstracts
OP13 Content analysis of on-package labelling of breast milk substitutes in GB to assess use of messaging relating to breastfeeding
Rana Conway, Sara Esser, Andrew Steptoe, Andrea Smith, Clare Llewellyn
Reports
Assessing the impact of alcohol calorie and unit labelling on consumer behaviours: findings from a systematic review
Jessica Packer, Claire Stansfield, Maria Sifaki, Semina Michalopolou, Russell Viner, Simon Russell
Critical reasoning and advertising in children and adolescents
Jessica Packer, Helen Croker, Anne-Lise Goddings, Claire Stansfield, Emma Boyland, Maria Sifaki, Russell Viner, Simon Russell
Assessing the effectiveness of obesity interventions in the early years in UK studies: a systematic review
Semina Michalopoulou, Maria Sifaki, Jessica Packer, Julie Lanigan, Britta Augsburg, Clare Stansfield Russell Viner, Simon Russell
Patient and Public Involvement Portfolio 2017-2022
Simon Russell, Jessica Packer, Russell Viner
Scoping review to map on-package formula labelling: including nutrition and health claims on infant, followon and growing-up formula
Rana Conway, Sara Esser, Andrew Steptoe, Andrea Smith, Clare Llewellyn
Factors that influence parents’ provision of home prepared and commercial foods for infants and young children: A longitudinal analysis focused on disparities in socio-economic position
Paul Coleman, Kimberley Neve, Anna Isaacs, Corinna Hawkes
How actions designed to prevent obesity can be more effective and equitable: Learnings from a longitudinal qualitative study of parents lived experiences of food during the COVID-19 pandemic
Charlotte Gallagher Squires, Paul Coleman, Anna Isaacs, Corinna Hawkes
Quantification of TV advertising of follow-on formula
Britta Augsburg Rachel Griffith
Papers
Why do parents use packaged infant foods when starting complementary feeding? Findings from phase one of a longitudinal qualitative study
Anna Isaacs, Kimberley Neve, Corinna Hawkes
Advertising and Young People’s Critical Reasoning Abilities: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Jessica Packer, Helen Croker, Anne-Lise Goddings, Emma Boyland, Claire Stansfield, Russell Viner, Simon Russell
The Impact on Dietary Outcomes of Celebrities and Influencers in Marketing Unhealthy Foods to Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Jessica Packer, Simon Russell, Gabriela Siovolgyi, Katie McLaren, Claire Stansfield, Russell Viner, Helen Croker
From healthy food environments to healthy wellbeing environments: Policy insights from a focused ethnography with low-income parents’ in England
Anna Isaacs, Joel Halligan, Kimberley Neve, Corinna Hawkes
The Impact on Dietary Outcomes of Licensed and Brand Equity Characters in Marketing Unhealthy Foods to Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Jessica Packer, Simon Russell, Gabriela Siovolgyi, Katie McLaren, Claire Stansfield, Russell Viner, Helen Croker
Is it possible to model the impact of calorie-reduction interventions on childhood obesity at a population level and across the range of deprivation: Evidence from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
Simon Russell, Steven Hope, Helen Croker, Jessica Packer, Russell Viner
2021
Abstracts
Similarities across packaging of infant formula, follow-on formula and formula labelled as food for special medical purposes available in mainland GB
Rana Conway, Sara Esser, Andrea Smith, Andrew Steptoe, Clare Llewellyn
Reports
Briefing Paper: Preliminary results from an experimental study examining the impact of front of pack labelling skills on knowledge
Jessica Packer, Simon Russell, Deborah Ridout, Steven Hope, Anne Conolly, Curtis Jessop, Russell Viner, Helen Croker
Quantification of purchasing of formula, commercial baby meals, finger foods and drinks (using Kantar data)
Britta Augsburg, Rachel Griffith, Rebecca Stroud
What policy options will be effective in encouraging healthy feeding practices among infants and young children? Phase 1
Anna Isaacs, Kimberley Neve, Corinna Hawkes
What policy options will be effective in encouraging healthy feeding practices among infants and young children? Phase 2
Anna Isaacs, Kimberley Neve, Corinna Hawkes
How should the UK government’s obesity prevention strategy (and related public health agenda) adapt to ensure equitable obesity prevention in light of changes related to COVID19? Phase 1
Anna Isaacs, Charlotte Gallagher Squires, Corinna Hawkes
How should the UK government’s obesity prevention strategy (and related public health agenda) adapt to ensure equitable obesity prevention in light of changes related to COVID19? Phase 2
Anna Isaacs, Charlotte Gallagher Squires, Corinna Hawkes
Papers
Assessing the Effectiveness of Front of Pack Labels: Findings from an Online Randomised-Controlled Experiment in a Representative British Sample Jessica Packer, Simon Russell, Deborah Ridout, Steven Hope, Anne Conolly, Curtis Jessop, Oliver Robinson, Sandro Stoffel, Russell Viner, Helen Croker
Modeling the impact of calorie‐reduction interventions on population prevalence and inequalities in childhood obesity in the Southampton Women’s Survey Simon Russell, Steven Hope, Helen Croker, Sarah Crozier, Jessica Packer, Hazel Inskip, Russell Viner
2020
How to tackle obesity inequalities in Great Yarmouth: insights from how families living in low-income areas engage with the food environment
Anna Issacs, Kimberley Neve, Joel Halligan, Corinna Hawkes
How to tackle obesity inequalities in Lewisham: insights from how families living in low-income areas engage with the food environment
Anna Issacs, Kimberley Neve, Joel Halligan, Corinna Hawkes
How to tackle obesity inequalities in Stoke-on-Trent: insights from how families living in low-income areas engage with the food environment
Anna Isaacs, Kimberley Neve, Joel Halligan, Corinna Hawkes
How do families living in low-income areas engage with the food environment, and what does this mean for effective obesity prevention policies?
Anna Isaacs, Kimberley Neve, Joel Halligan, Corinna Hawkes
Modelling the impact of reductions in energy intake (estimated) on population prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity: Energy intake estimates from BMI using Henry equations
Simon Russell, Steven Hope, Helen Croker, Jessica Packer, Russell Viner
Papers
Obesity prevention in the early years: A mapping study of national policies in England from a behavioral science perspective
Helen Croker, Simon Russell, Aswathikutty Gireesh, Aida Bonham, Corinna Hawkes, Helen Bedford, Susan Michie, Russell Viner
Front of pack nutritional labelling schemes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of recent evidence relating to objectively measured consumption and purchasing
Helen Croker, Jessica Packer, Simon Russell, Claire Stansfield, Russell Viner
The acceptability and feasibility of using a 3D body size scale to initiate conversations about weight in toddlerhood: a mixed-methods study
Kristiane Tommerup, Andrea D Smith, Elizabeth Evans, Helen Croker, Andrew Steptoe, Martin J Tovee, Alison Fildes, Clare Llewellyn
2019
Abstracts
Critical reasoning and advertising in children and adolescents: a systematic scoping review
Helen Croker, Simon Russell, Jessica Packer, Anne Lisa Goddings, Claire Stansfield, Emma Boyland, Russell Viner
Exploring engagement with the food provisioning in areas of deprivation: findings from three ethnographic case studies
Anna Isaacs, Joel Halligan, Corinna Hawkes
Critical reasoning and advertising in children and adolescents: a narrative synthesis from a systematic review
Helen Croker, Simon Russell, Jessica Packer, Anne Lisa Goddings, Claire Stansfield, Emma Boyland, Russell Viner
Effects of advertising on children’s understanding and attitudes: use of public and patient involvement to understand young people’s response to a systematic review
Jessica Packer, Simon Russell, Stephanie Smith, Russell Viner, Helen Croker
Systematic review of brief interventions aimed at promoting energy balance behaviours delivered during antenatal care
Andrea Smith, Kristiane Tommerup, Helen Croker, Alexandra Rhodes, Clare Llewellyn
Reports
The potential impacts of banning television advertising of HFSS food and drink before the watershed
Rachel Griffth, Martin O’Connell, Kate Smith, and Rebekah Stroud
The evidence of the effects of soft drinks taxes
Rachel Griffth, Martin O’Connell, Kate Smith, and Rebekah Stroud
2018
Abstracts
Reducing excessive maternal weight gain: use of public and patient involvement to inform development of an infographic to promote healthy eating during pregnancy
Charis Bridger Staatz, Clare Llewellyn, Andrea Smith, Helen Croker
Quantifying the effect of screen advertising on dietary intake in children [O1.2]
Simon Russell, Helen Croker, Russell Viner
Mapping policy actions and risk factors for obesity onto the current prevention landscape [O1.5]
Helen Croker, Aida Bonham, Simon Russell, Helen Bedford, Corinna Hawkes, Susan Michie, Russell Viner
Reports
Children’s exposure to TV advertising of food and drink
Rachel Griffith, Martin O’Connell, Kate Smith, Rebekah Stroud
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Papers
The effect of screen advertising on children’s dietary intake: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Simon Russell, Russell Viner, Helen Croker
Investigating the effect of food advertising on children’s dietary intake
Simon Russell, Russell Viner, Helen Croker
2017
Reports
What can be learned from the Amsterdam Healthy Weight programme to inform the policy response to obesity in England?
Corinna Hawkes, Simon Russell, Anna Isaacs, Harry Rutter, Russell Viner
The NIHR Policy Research Unit in Healthy Weight is part of the NIHR and hosted by UCL
