Insights

Dr Roberto Valiente Borox explores the potential of a newly launched interactive tool that maps the availability of alcohol and tobacco in Scotland, specifically designed for neighborhood analysis.

In light of the recent Scottish Government consultation into alcohol marketing, SPECTRUM Research Fellow, Dr Alice Tompson, explores the ways in which unhealthy commodity industries exploit the consultation process to influence policy that favours profits over public health.

Establishing and maintaining dialogue between research and policy is key to achieving impact. Find out more about our recent activities engaging with Scottish Government policy teams and the Scottish Parliament on the topic of industry influence, and the crucial role of our knowledge brokers.

Breakfast cereal manufacturer, Kellogg’s, recently lost a High Court legal challenge against new UK government regulations designed to tackle childhood obesity. SPECTRUM members, Keith Syrett and Cécile Knai, explore the case and its implications for public health.

The tobacco industry has long argued that tobacco is vital for increasing customer footfall in small retailers. Professor Jamie Pearce explains why this is no longer the case.

By Alistair Brown, Kat Smith, Rob Ralston and Clementine Hill O’Connor

Despite current regulations, new research from the University of Nottingham has found reality TV shows drive widespread exposure to tobacco, alcohol and ‘Junk food’ content. SPECTRUM Research Assistant, Jaspreet Bal Randhawa, discusses the study findings.

SPECTRUM Deputy Director and Impact Lead, Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, sits down with Dr Nason Maani to discuss her journey into public health and how to generate impact.

Following the launch of our new public involvement group, SPECTRUM Research Fellow, Dr Parvati Perman-Howe, reminds us why working with members of the public is crucial to delivering quality research and shares her top tips for meaningful public involvement.

SPECTRUM researchers Professor Mark Petticrew and Professor Jeff Collin discuss the influence of powerful unhealthy commodity industries as a significant barrier to progress in public health policy.

Caroline Cerny from the Obesity Health Alliance shares highlights from our joint webinar on 16 November, exploring how to turn recommendations from the recently published healthy weight strategy into action.

SPECTRUM Research Fellow, Dr Loren Kock, outlines recent progress from the Smoking Toolkit Study following the launch of their new website.

Jamie Brown, University College London, and Martin Dockrell, Public Health England, reflect on the Stoptober national smoking cessation campaign as it enters its tenth year.

This week marks Global Week for Action on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). 

Caroline Cerny, Alliance Lead at the Obesity Health Alliance, marks one year of the Government’s landmark Tackling Obesity strategy.

SPECTRUM Director, Professor Linda Bauld, discusses her path into public health, highlights of her career to date, and her science communication work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Lauren Carters-White explains why the news that the Government is potentially reneging on their proposal to ban online advertisements of HFSS products is a particularly concerning one - especially as this was highlighted as a flagship policy in Summer 2020 and a key part of the UK Government’s new obesity strategy

SPECTRUM Research Fellow, Dr Lauren Carters-White, discusses opportunities and challenges around the recent UK Government announcement of unhealthy food promotions legislation.

Dr Lauren White has written a blog on her PhD, which examined parents’ and children’s views on the regulation of online advertising of unhealthy food and drink to children

Professor Niamh Shortt queries the next steps for tobacco control in Scotland, in a blog for The Centre for Research on Environment Society and Health (CRESH)