IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i3p413-d202368.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Qualitative Study to Understand the Potential Efficacy of an Information-Based Sugar Reduction Intervention among Low Socioeconomic Individuals in the UK

Author

Listed:
  • Hannah Forde

    (UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 285 Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
    Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TZ, UK)

  • Emma Solomon-Moore

    (Department for Health, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK)

Abstract

Sugar consumption in the UK consistently exceeds recommendations, despite the association it has with poor health outcomes. Low socioeconomic groups are most likely to over-consume sugar, which could exacerbate existing health disparities. Various interventions attempt to reduce the amount of sugar consumed, but their effectiveness is still unclear. This study qualitatively explored the sugar consumption behaviours of individuals experiencing food poverty, and examined how an information-based sugar reduction intervention might influence these behaviours. Eight clients and six volunteers from a food bank in Bristol (UK) completed semi-structured, one-to-one interviews that were thematically analysed. Food bank clients appeared to heavily consume sugar, with little understanding of the associated health effects and limited awareness of the intervention. Consumption behaviours were particularly influenced by personal and psychological factors, such as mental health; in addition to social factors, like familial behaviours and food access issues. It emerged that food bank clients’ often-challenging personal circumstances were likely to promote their sugar consumption. Making intervention materials visually appealing and easily comprehendible were found to be important for improving an intervention’s reception. Recommendations were developed to improve the efficacy of similar information-based sugar reduction interventions among socioeconomically deprived groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Hannah Forde & Emma Solomon-Moore, 2019. "A Qualitative Study to Understand the Potential Efficacy of an Information-Based Sugar Reduction Intervention among Low Socioeconomic Individuals in the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-16, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:3:p:413-:d:202368
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/3/413/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/3/413/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jean Adams & Oliver Mytton & Martin White & Pablo Monsivais, 2016. "Why Are Some Population Interventions for Diet and Obesity More Equitable and Effective Than Others? The Role of Individual Agency," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(4), pages 1-7, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sarah Gerritsen & Sophia Harré & Boyd Swinburn & David Rees & Ana Renker-Darby & Ann E. Bartos & Wilma E. Waterlander, 2019. "Systemic Barriers and Equitable Interventions to Improve Vegetable and Fruit Intake in Children: Interviews with National Food System Actors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Sharea Ijaz & James Nobles & Laura Johnson & Theresa Moore & Jelena Savović & Russell Jago, 2021. "Preventing Childhood Obesity in Primary Schools: A Realist Review from UK Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-25, December.
    3. Gesa Czwikla & Filip Boen & Derek G. Cook & Johan de Jong & Tess Harris & Lisa K. Hilz & Steve Iliffe & Richard Morris & Saskia Muellmann & Denise A. Peels & Claudia R. Pischke & Benjamin Schüz & Mart, 2019. "Equity-Specific Effects of Interventions to Promote Physical Activity among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Development of a Collaborative Equity-Specific Re-Analysis Strategy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Tarra L. Penney & Thomas Burgoine & Pablo Monsivais, 2018. "Relative Density of Away from Home Food Establishments and Food Spend for 24,047 Households in England: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Thomas Burgoine & Joreintje D. Mackenbach & Jeroen Lakerveld & Nita G. Forouhi & Simon J. Griffin & Søren Brage & Nicholas J. Wareham & Pablo Monsivais, 2017. "Interplay of Socioeconomic Status and Supermarket Distance Is Associated with Excess Obesity Risk: A UK Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-13, October.
    6. Melanie Schneider & Carolin Nössler & Petra Maria Lührmann, 2021. "Environmental Intervention in a University Canteen with Focus on Decision Guidance—Effects on Sale and Daily Consumption of Vegetables and Fruit," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-11, October.
    7. Meiksin, Rebecca & Er, Vanessa & Thompson, Claire & Adams, Jean & Boyland, Emma & Burgoine, Thomas & Cornelsen, Laura & de Vocht, Frank & Egan, Matt & Lake, Amelia A. & Lock, Karen & Mytton, Oliver & , 2022. "Restricting the advertising of high fat, salt and sugar foods on the Transport for London estate: Process and implementation study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    8. Ingrid Stegeman & Alba Godfrey & Maria Romeo-Velilla & Ruth Bell & Brigit Staatsen & Nina van der Vliet & Hanneke Kruize & George Morris & Timothy Taylor & Rosa Strube & Kirsti Anthun & Monica Lillefj, 2020. "Encouraging and Enabling Lifestyles and Behaviours to Simultaneously Promote Environmental Sustainability, Health and Equity: Key Policy Messages from INHERIT," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-22, September.
    9. Marjolijn Vos & Maria Romeo-Velilla & Ingrid Stegeman & Ruth Bell & Nina van der Vliet & Wendy Van Lippevelde, 2020. "Qualitative Evaluation of the STOEMP Network in Ghent: An Intersectoral Approach to Make Healthy and Sustainable Food Available to All," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-19, April.
    10. Nicole E. H. Stappers & Dave H. H. Van Kann & Nanne K. De Vries & Stef P. J. Kremers, 2018. "Do Physical Activity Friendly Neighborhoods Affect Community Members Equally? A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, May.
    11. Louis Goffe & Nadege S. Uwamahoro & Christopher J. Dixon & Alasdair P. Blain & Jona Danielsen & David Kirk & Ashley J. Adamson, 2020. "Supporting a Healthier Takeaway Meal Choice: Creating a Universal Health Rating for Online Takeaway Fast-Food Outlets," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-12, December.
    12. Laura Tinner & Daniel Holman & Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh & Anthony A. Laverty, 2023. "Use of Intersectionality Theory in Interventional Health Research in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-20, July.
    13. Christina Gillies & Hedwig te Molder & Annemarie Wagemakers, 2023. "Health Promotion Values Underlying Healthy Eating Strategies in The Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-11, July.
    14. Harvey-Sullivan, Adam & Lynch, Heidi & Tolley, Abraham & Gitlin-Leigh, Guy & Kuhn, Isla & Ford, John Alexander, 2024. "What impact do self-referral and direct access pathways for patients have on health inequalities?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    15. Atanasova, Petya & Kusuma, Dian & Pineda, Elisa & Frost, Gary & Sassi, Franco & Miraldo, Marisa, 2022. "The impact of the consumer and neighbourhood food environment on dietary intake and obesity-related outcomes: A systematic review of causal impact studies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    16. Schüz, Benjamin & Conner, Mark & Wilding, Sarah & Alhawtan, Rana & Prestwich, Andrew & Norman, Paul, 2021. "Do socio-structural factors moderate the effects of health cognitions on COVID-19 protection behaviours?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    17. Rahim, Nicholas Errol & Flood, David & Marcus, Maja E. & Theilmann, Michaela & Aung, Taing N. & Agoudavi, Kokou & Aryal, Krishna Kumar & Bahendeka, Silver & Bicaba, Brice & Bovet, Pascal & Diallo, Alp, 2023. "Diabetes risk and provision of diabetes prevention activities in 44 low-income and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative, individual-level survey data," Open Access Publications from Kiel Institute for the World Economy 278702, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:3:p:413-:d:202368. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.