Poster Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2023

Demographic predictors of public support for obesity prevention policies and sugar labelling practices and perceptions (#242)

Elizaveta Ilchenko 1 , Rebecca Godwin 1 , Belinda Morley 1 2
  1. Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, East Melbourne
  2. Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville

Background: Conducted annually since 2016, the Shape of Australia survey aims to provide insights into Australians’ health-related attitudes and behaviours, informing Cancer Council’s health advocacy efforts.

Methods: A national sample of 2,322 Australian adults aged 18-65 years was surveyed by web panel between September 9th and 23rd, 2022. Data were adjusted using benchmarks for age, smoking status, low-income status (Healthcare card), geographic location, and language spoken at home. Multivariable logistic regression models tested demographic variables as predictors of agreement with policy-related statements and support for Government action on unhealthy food and sugary drinks advertising, as well as perceptions related to sugar labelling.

Results: Agreement with the majority of policy statements and support for Government action against unhealthy food and sugary drinks marketing was significantly higher for respondents identifying as female (73%-87%) cf. male (66%-78%), respondents aged 45-65 years (73%-85%) cf.18-29 years (63%-75%) and 30-44 years (68%-83%), and those residing in higher (76%-82%) cf. lower (65%-74%) and mid (69%-78%) socio-economic areas (all p<.05). Similarly, correct identification of most types of added sugars was significantly higher among respondents identifying as female (37%-83%) cf. male (22%-71%), those aged 30-44 (36%-74%), and 45-65 years (35%-87%) cf. 18-29 years (21%-64%), and those with tertiary education or above (39%-80%) cf. secondary or lower (29%-69%) (all p<.05). For both policy and sugar labelling measures there were significant differences by body mass index, parental status and geographic location.

Conclusions: Future mass media campaigns could capitalise on the existing high levels of support for obesity prevention policies and awareness of sugar labelling practices among the respondent groups identified. To address the existent knowledge gap among other population subgroups, health campaigns may be tailored to communicate concerns about the harmful effects of unhealthy food and sugary drinks marketing and increase awareness about added sugars.