The NatCen Blog

Here we’ll be talking about our research in the context of the latest news, opinion and
analysis through comments from our team of experts. We’d love to hear from you, so post comments or get in touch with us.

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• Posted on 03 May 2022 by Andy MacGregor, Director of Policy Research ScotCen

  Staying healthy in a fast-changing world: exploring young people’s experiences of unhealthy food marketing

  

  Changes in young people’s media habits in recent years, alongside the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, have transformed the landscape for policymakers concerned with unhealthy food marketing.

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  Tags: COVID-19, Scottish Centre for Social Research, food marketing, health, healthy eating, obesity

• Posted on 10 January 2018 by Gillian Prior, Deputy Chief Executive and Director

  Celebrating the launch of the new Health Survey for England

  

  Today we have relaunched the summary website for the Health Survey for England, updated to include the most recent data from the 2016 survey.  

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  Tags: Health Survey for England, health, health and lifestyle, healthy eating

• Posted on 07 June 2017

  NatCen on the Election: 4 things our health surveys can tell you about manifesto pledges

  What do the manifestos say about improving the nation's health - and are they likely to make any difference? Keeva Rooney outlines 4 things you need to know.

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  Tags: NatCen on the Election, child obesity, health, healthy eating, public health

• Posted on 23 September 2016 by Guy Goodwin, Chief Executive

  Research: the best medicine?

  

  A visit to the doctor leaves Chief Executive Guy Goodwin considering the role of research in health interventions, and regretting that slice of lemon meringue pie. 

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  Tags: Health Survey for England, National Diet and Nutrition Survey, health, healthy eating

• Posted on 14 July 2016 by Andy MacGregor, Director of Policy Research ScotCen

  How do junk food ads influence children?

  

  Our research uncovers what primary school children think of adverts for unhealthy foods.

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  Tags: children's nutrition, food, healthy eating

• Posted on 05 November 2013

  Top tips for schools getting ready to deliver free school meals

  Hashim shares top tips from schools who took part in a free school meals pilot.

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  Tags: children, children's nutrition, diet, food, free school meals, health, healthy eating, nutrition, school dinners

• Posted on 08 May 2013 by Caireen Roberts, Research Director

  Are 'healthy' foods marketed at children really that healthy?

  

  Research published this week shows that some foods being marketed to children are less healthy than those marketed to the general population and asks whether more guidelines are needed to regulate food promotion to children.With the rise in childhood obesity, attention has focused on the advertising...

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  Tags: food packaging, healthy eating