Consumer Behavior in Childhood Obesity Research and Policy

Parental perceptions of and concerns about child's body weight in eight European countries – the IDEFICS study

“…Another important concept for prevention is the protection of children from the dangers of the ‘obesogenic’ environment . Parents have an important role here, but they have a limited capability on their own to act as gatekeepers for many reasons, i.e., social norms and media and marketing exposures . The parents need support from primary healthcare professionals.…”

‘Children are exposed to temptation all the time’– parents’ lifestyle‐related discussions in focus groups

“…Ecological theory goes on to state that society also plays a crucial role in affecting children's lifestyles (8,12,13). There are two societal institutions in Sweden that directly impact preschool children: Child Health Centers (CHCs) and preschools.…”

Experimental Evidence on the Impact of Food Advertising on Children’s Knowledge about and Preferences for Healthful Food

“…On a social level, it jeopardises societies' sustainability through the erosion of social cohesion, equity, and fairness. In the developed world, obesity is closely connected with low socioeconomic status (SES); that is, membership in groups for whom access to and availability and affordability of healthier food choices and physical activity is particularly limited [5]. There is also evidence that cumulative exposure to television food advertising—which is higher in lower SES groups—is linked to adult fast-food consumption [6].…”