Commercial Determinants
By commercial determinants, we mean private sector activities that positively or negatively affect health.
Our research is investigating the links between health and the marketing and manufacture of unhealthy food and drink, the impact of gambling, air pollution etc.
What are the headlines?
- Apps could have a part to play in helping people adopt both healthier and more sustainable diets
- Rising sales of ultra-processed foods creates incentives for the production of even more
- Calorie labels on takeaway menus are rarely factored into consumer choices
- Harms from alcohol and gambling are unequal in different places
- A free smartphone app, Drink Less, can help people to reduce alcohol consumption
How is our research making a difference?
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Unhealthy food and drink advertising: Presenting evidence in UK Parliament
We have presented research on unhealthy advertising restriction policies and how they could impact upon public health.
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Our research supports TfL’s advertising restriction policy, which we found was associated with an estimated 1,001 kcal (6.7%) decrease in average weekly household purchases.
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First study assessing the ways English local authorities may interact with industries that produce products potentially harmful to health.
What research are we currently doing?
Conceptualising local systems of consumption that produce inequalities: the night-time economy
Background The commercial determinants of population health are of increasing concern to leaders in public health, but tools to manage their influence in local public health decision making are lacking. In the particular context of the night-time economy, the way that unhealthy products relate to each other is complex. People…
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What research are we currently doing?
Evaluating community-led interventions to maximise the health and well-being of climate change adaptations for extreme events: Phase 1
This project is now in its Phase 2 Background Extreme weather events such as floods and heatwaves are increasing in the UK due to climate change. The government has recognised this as a major risk to health and an important focus for public health policy and action. While climate…
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What research are we currently doing?
Evaluating community-led interventions to maximise the health and wellbeing of climate change adaptations for extreme events: Phase 2
Background Extreme weather events such as floods and heatwaves are increasing across the UK due to climate change. They are recognised in policy as a major risk to health and a high priority. The work of communities in responding to extreme weather risks can keep people safe and reduce the…
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What research are we currently doing?
Understanding the sponsorship activities associated with English Local Government
Background In our day-to-day lives, we are exposed to companies trying to sell us things through advertising and sponsorship. This is often for products that can be harmful to people and to the planet. Examples of this include unhealthy food and drink, vaping, gambling and cars and can often be…
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What research are we currently doing?
Local strategies for the control of harmful commodities advertising and sponsorship
Background Advertising and sponsorship are used to promote products. This includes products that can be harmful to our health and to the environment, such as alcohol and unhealthy food, as well as products that use fossil fuels or create plastic waste. There are many types of advertising such…
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What have we already provided evidence on?
Sharing understanding of commercial determinants of health in Sheffield – This project worked with Sheffield residents to agree a ‘common language’ in which health issues, practices, and their impacts could be discussed.
Local government interactions with harmful commodity industries – Provided a better understand the nature and extent of interactions between companies that produce unhealthy products and local government.
What is the impact of environmental pollution on young people’s mental health? – Examined the role of pollution on adolescent mental health.
Take it away: a masterclass in healthy takeaways – We worked with takeaway owners to encourage healthier cooking and menu options.
Where can I find out more?
Everyone’s business: Understanding the commercial determinants of mental ill health
Reproduced from a blog on the SPCR website The impact that our social and physical environments have on mental health is increasingly being recognised. A powerful but relatively understudied contributor to those environments are corporate actors, sometimes termed the commercial determinants of health. To date, there has…
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Where can I find out more?
The value of an informed opinion – using deliberative methods to engage citizens on corporate influence
Blog by SPHR intern Sachin Weatherburn Determinants of health Within South Yorkshire, the gap in life expectancy between the least and most deprived areas is 8.7 years for men, and 7.6 years for women. People living in poorer areas are not only living shorter lives, but also live in…
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Where can I find out more?
Health and risk communication for public health network webinar series
The SPHR Network for Health and risk communication for public health is excited to announce an upcoming lunchtime webinar series. The series will explore a range of topics across health and risk communication. The series is open to everyone. Please register below for the webinars you want to attend…
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