Sponsorship of physical activity programs by the sweetened beverages industry: public health or public relations?

Authors

  • Luis Gómez Pontificia Universidad Javeriana; Facultad de Medicina
  • Enrique Jacoby Organización Panamericana de la Salud; Asesoría Regional de Nutrición
  • Lorena Ibarra Fundación FES Social; División Salud
  • Diego Lucumí Fundación FES Social; División Salud
  • Alexandra Hernandez Universidad del Rosario; Departamento del Medio Universitario
  • Diana Parra Washington University in St. Louis; Prevention Research Center in St. Louis; George Warren Brown School of Social Work
  • Alex Florindo Universidade de São Paulo; Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades
  • Pedro Hallal Universidade Federal de Pelotas; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102011000200022

Keywords:

Nutririon, Public Health, Physical Activity, Soft Drinks, Soft Drinks Industries, Conflict of interest

Abstract

The growing evidence on the association between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, obesity and other chronic diseases has highlighted the need to implement policy actions that go beyond programs exclusively focused on individual responsibility. In order to protect their commercial goals in Latin America, the sugar-sweetened beverage industry practices intense lobbying at high government levels in several countries across the region. This strategy is accompanied by corporate social responsibility programs that fund initiatives promoting physical activity. These efforts, although appearing altruistic, are intended to improve the industry's public image and increase political influence in order to block regulations counter to their interests. If this industry wants to contribute to human well being, as it has publicly stated, it should avoid blocking legislative actions intended to regulate the marketing, advertising and sale of their products.

Published

2011-04-01

Issue

Section

Comments

How to Cite

Gómez, L., Jacoby, E., Ibarra, L., Lucumí, D., Hernandez, A., Parra, D., Florindo, A., & Hallal, P. (2011). Sponsorship of physical activity programs by the sweetened beverages industry: public health or public relations? . Revista De Saúde Pública, 45(2), 423-427. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102011000200022