Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/32304
Appears in Collections:Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport Journal Articles
Peer Review Status: Refereed
Title: The case for developing a cohesive systems approach to research across unhealthy commodity industries
Author(s): Knai, Cécile
Petticrew, Mark
Capewell, Simon
Cassidy, Rebecca
Collin, Jeff
Cummins, Steven
Eastmure, Elizabeth
Fafard, Patrick
Fitzgerald, Niamh
Gilmore, Anna B
Hawkins, Ben
Jensen, Jørgen Dejgård
Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal
Maani, Nason
Mays, Nicholas
Issue Date: Feb-2021
Date Deposited: 19-Feb-2021
Citation: Knai C, Petticrew M, Capewell S, Cassidy R, Collin J, Cummins S, Eastmure E, Fafard P, Fitzgerald N, Gilmore AB, Hawkins B, Jensen JD, Katikireddi SV, Maani N & Mays N (2021) The case for developing a cohesive systems approach to research across unhealthy commodity industries. BMJ Global Health, 6 (2), Art. No.: e003543. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003543
Abstract: Objectives Most non-communicable diseases are preventable and largely driven by the consumption of harmful products, such as tobacco, alcohol, gambling and ultra-processed food and drink products, collectively termed unhealthy commodities. This paper explores the links between unhealthy commodity industries (UCIs), analyses the extent of alignment across their corporate political strategies, and proposes a cohesive systems approach to research across UCIs. Methods We held an expert consultation on analysing the involvement of UCIs in public health policy, conducted an analysis of business links across UCIs, and employed taxonomies of corporate political activity to collate, compare and illustrate strategies employed by the alcohol, ultra-processed food and drink products, tobacco and gambling industries. Results There are clear commonalities across UCIs’ strategies in shaping evidence, employing narratives and framing techniques, constituency building and policy substitution. There is also consistent evidence of business links between UCIs, as well as complex relationships with government agencies, often allowing UCIs to engage in policy-making forums. This knowledge indicates that the role of all UCIs in public health policy would benefit from a common approach to analysis. This enables the development of a theoretical framework for understanding how UCIs influence the policy process. It highlights the need for a deeper and broader understanding of conflicts of interests and how to avoid them; and a broader conception of what constitutes strong evidence generated by a wider range of research types. Conclusion UCIs employ shared strategies to shape public health policy, protecting business interests, and thereby contributing to the perpetuation of non-communicable diseases. A cohesive systems approach to research across UCIs is required to deepen shared understanding of this complex and interconnected area and also to inform a more effective and coherent response.
DOI Link: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003543
Rights: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
Notes: Additional co-authors: Modi Mwatsama, Rima Nakkash, Jim F Orford, Harry Rutter, Natalie Savona, May CI van Schalkwyk, Heide Weishaar
Licence URL(s): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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