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Research conducted by the University of Liverpool (UoL) has convincingly shown that there are strong links between the exposure of children to food advertising, brand recognition and being overweight or obese. This work consistently informs the policies of regulators and health agencies, nationally and internationally. In this specific example, work by Halford and Boyland to characterize the effects of food advertising on children's diet, food preferences, intake and body weight has had a direct effect on UK and overseas policy development. Notably this includes informing WHO guidelines to national governments on introducing effective regulatory frameworks and for monitoring their effectiveness.
Our research has led to a change in DoH guidelines on maternal consumption of peanut during pregnancy/breastfeeding.
Guidelines until 2009 advocated the avoidance of peanut in allergic families. However evidence base for this advice was poor and the advice was adopted by families regardless of their allergy status leading to significant constraints on their lifestyles. Our research revealed that peanut allergy is not associated with maternal peanut consumption, and that there was no need for pregnant women to avoid peanut during pregnancy. On the basis of our research DoH concluded that previous guidance was inappropriate and it was thus withdrawn.
This case study highlights the impact of Leeds Trinity's Cooking Communities Project in promoting intergenerational and multicultural community relations through afterschool cooking clubs. The project established school-based community cooking clubs in 17 schools in disadvantaged areas of West Yorkshire, bringing together children and adults from varying ethnic backgrounds to share cooking and eating experiences. These clubs developed practical cooking skills and knowledge of healthy eating in 250 young people, and helped break down social barriers between individuals from different generational and cultural backgrounds. Educational resources were developed and distrubuted to schools across Yorkshire and Humberside, and the materials dveloped were used in the development of a new Food Specialism Course for Higher Level Teaching Assistants. Furthermore, local economic activity was stimulated through the sourcing of local ingredients.
The Food Dudes scheme devised by the Bangor Food and Activity Research Unit has produced large and lasting increases in children's consumption of fruit and vegetables. More than 500,000 4- to 11-year-old children have participated, in European countries and the US, with funding of more than £20m for research, evaluation, and rollout. Given the major public health challenge of increasing children's consumption of fruit and vegetables (often their least-liked foods), in order to reduce potential risk of future obesity or illnesses including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers, our unique combination of behaviour change principles -- including Role Modelling, Rewards, and Repeated Tasting -- has achieved significant success.
Research led by Professor Roger Mackett of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at UCL on children's physical activity has been used by central and local government, other public bodies and various advocacy groups to encourage children to be more active. It has been used to support policy documents and proposals aimed at improving children's health and wellbeing. It has led to improvements in the health, welfare and quality of life of many UK communities through, for example, their greater use of walking buses, which also contributes to reduced CO2 emissions.
We have carried out research into children's perception and behaviour around dogs, which has led to the development of an effective safety training programme, as well as improving public understanding of child-dog interactions and risk contexts for dog bite injury in children. The `Blue Dog' (BD — www.thebluedog.org) project has led to changed educational and veterinary practice, public policy change and animal welfare benefits internationally. A key part of the project was the development and validation of an interactive DVD, with training tools that teach children how to be safe around dogs. The results of the research were integrated into the injury prevention messages disseminated by the BD project. The research programme has received publicity worldwide, and over 80,000 copies of the BD DVD have been distributed to 21 different countries, with the accompanying BD booklet translated into 17 different languages. The research was carried out from 2005 onwards, with the impact of the research accruing from 2008 to date.
Cardiff University has established the world's largest single cohort of children and young adults with Down's syndrome in which visual deficits have been characterised. Cardiff research studies over 20 years have informed evidence-based guidelines published by the Department of Health and national practitioner bodies for the recognition and practical management of common visual problems in children with Down's syndrome. Consequently, eye care specialists now recommend bifocals for these children. The Cardiff research has also supported changes to teaching methods and resources for children with Down's syndrome. Collectively these children are now benefiting from better eye care and improved learning and educational opportunities.
Young Lives is identifying major influences on children's development, from infancy to adulthood, by carrying out a pioneering longitudinal study across four developing countries over 15 years. Young Lives gathers and analyses data on how childhood is changing in diverse communities, especially through the impact of economic, cultural and policy shifts, by studying two age cohorts in each country. UNICEF, the World Bank, Plan International, and Save the Children International, among others, are using Young Lives research to design childhood poverty-reduction policies in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The research also underpins the re-visioning of global child protection work by UNICEF, Save the Children Canada, and World Vision UK.
Professor Dieter Wolke has led several research programmes that delineate the long-term health effects of prenatal exposure to stress and moderate/late preterm, very preterm, and extremely preterm birth. His research has had a direct impact on international medical guidelines and educational recommendations for babies born preterm. The research has also informed European political debate (via a White Paper for the European parliament) on healthcare policy related to after care for preterm or sick children; has influenced UK policy regarding the education of children born preterm; and has contributed to public and practitioner understanding through media items issued, for example, by the NHS and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Public understanding and debate at the national level have been impacted upon by the research work of psychologists at the University. Furthermore, through bespoke knowledge exchange workshops understanding, intentions and practices of education and care professionals have changed. The impact draws on the work of Burkitt and Greenlees, both chartered psychologists and Readers at the University undertaking applied psychological research in the area of colour. Burkitt has published on the use and meaning of colour in children's drawings and Greenlees on its effect on sporting performance particularly in football.