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Why Aren’t Counsellors the Heavy Weights in Meeting Consumer Demand in the Weight Loss Industry? Presented by Philip Armstrong FACA CEO of ACA. Snap Shot of the Counselling Industry in Australia. Self-regulated Multiple professional bodies
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Why Aren’t Counsellors the Heavy Weights in Meeting Consumer Demand in the Weight Loss Industry? Presented by Philip Armstrong FACA CEO of ACA
Snap Shot of the Counselling Industry in Australia
Self-regulated • Multiple professional bodies • No rebates against National Health System (Medicare) • Some recognition by Private Health Funds • Some recognition by State Governments • Counselling is seen as an Adjunctive skill by the Federal Government XXXXXXX
Public/Employer/Government are confused • Employment potential is good • Low paying profession • Private Practice is extremely competitive • Training comes from both Vocational and Higher Education sectors • Registration is seen as necessary by public and employment sectors
Expectations of ACA Members Top 5 in order of demand: • Government recognition • Increase employment opportunities • Increase market potential and consumer demand for Private Practice • Standards • Ethics and Code of Practice
Commercial Value • Global Weight Management Market is estimated to be worth USD 385.1 billion • Canada approx 6 Billion annually • USA over $310 Billion per year • Australia over $1 Billion is annually spent
How have they positioned themselves to dominate the market with products that simply do not work?
Marketing - Expenditure Food manufacturers are reported to spend a significant amounts of money on advertising In 1999 food manufacturers in the US spent almost $7.3 billion on direct consumer advertising. In Australia spending was reported to be estimated at $400 million on advertising (2003) and food ranked number five in the top ten product categories advertised. Food companies which produced high-fat and high sugar foods that were highly processed and packaged spent most of this money in both the US and Australia.
Media Influence The media has been identified by consumers as an important source of nutrition information (1,2) and this has important implications, as many consumers rely on this information to make their food decisions(3). Studies have found that processed foods are the most commonly advertised food form among those advertisements identified as containing a healthy eating message. Canned and bottle foods were the most commonly advertised products(4). 1. Australia New Zealand Food Authority. Food labelling issues - consumer qualitative research. Canberra: Australia New Zealand Food Authority; 2001. 2. . Goldberg J. Nutrition and health communication: the message and the media over half a century. Nutr Rev. 1992;50:71-7. • LohmannJ, Kant AK. Effect of the food guide pyramid on advertising. J Nutr Educ. 1998;30(1):23-8. 4. Pratt CA, Pratt CB. Comparative content analysis of food and nutrition advertisements in Ebony, Essence, and Ladies' Home Journal. J Nutr Educ. 1995;27(1):11-7.
Priming Effects of Television Food Advertising on Eating BehaviorJennifer L. Harris, John A. Bargh, and Kelly D. Brownell Yale University. (Health Psychol 2009) Health authorities believe that the accumulation of unhealthy messages communicated to children through food advertising is a leading cause of unhealthy consumption (Brownell & Horgen, 2004; IOM, 2006). Every day, children view, on average, 15 television food advertisements (Federal Trade Commission, 2007), and an overwhelming 98% of these ads promote products high in fat, sugar, and/or sodium (Powell, Szczpka, Chaloupka, & Braunschweig, 2007). Moreover, food advertising to children portrays unhealthy eating behaviors with positive outcomes. Children consumed 45% more when exposed to food advertising. Adults consumed more of both healthy and unhealthy snack foods following exposure to snack food advertising compared to the other conditions.
Foundations of Theory in Health Promotion and Health Behavior Not all health programs and initiatives are equally successful, however. Those most likely to achieve desired outcomes are based on a clear understanding of targeted health behaviors, and the environmental context in which they occur. Practitioners use strategic planning models to develop and manage these programs, and continually improve them through meaningful evaluation. Theory gives planners tools for moving beyond intuition to design and evaluate health behavior and health promotion interventions based on understanding of behavior. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
How can health professionals meet consumers’ needs better? Anthony Worsley BSc(Hons), PhD Department of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia • Realise that there may be more important things in the lives of consumers than the pursuit of health. • Recognise that people may find it difficult to separate healthy eating from the rest of their lives. Particular solutions to consumers’ lifestyles will have to be found. • Take a flexible approach to education and counselling — there are probably many healthy lifestyles and food consumption patterns. • Distinguish nutrition science from general beliefs and moral positions and, whenever possible, seek sound scientific evidence for their advice and teaching. xxxxxxxxx
How can health professionals meet consumers’ needs better? Anthony Worsley BSc(Hons), PhD Department of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia • Support consumers, provide clear explanations when they require them. • Equip consumers with general principles (schema) that will enable them to assimilate new information. • Encourage food companies and health agencies to work together to meet consumers’ needs. There is a need for companies (and government and non-government agencies) to cooperate in the public interest; for example, in the promotion of healthy food consumption patterns. • Develop policy positions that can be taken to government to assist the many sorts of consumers to lead healthy lives.
Research Other interesting examples of research on context suggest: • Seeing someone eating tends to encourage you to eat more • Obese individuals eat more in the presence of other obese individuals • We consume more when we are served more food regardless of our body size or the food served (portion size has a strong affect) • The easier access is to food the more likely we are to consume it and consume more of it xxxxxxxx
Research • A recent study found that eating a snack while watching TV results in greater intake of the food and also a marked decrease in the ability to determine just how much was consumed. • Across the board TV viewing affected the ability to accurately recall just how much was eaten and increased total intake • The longer a meal is the more we will tend to consume xxxxxxxx
Research • We spend more money on food when appealing music is played • The more people we are with during a meal increases consumption (not to mention the impact of each individual on our intake)
Impact on Unborn Babies PREGNANT women who eat junk food program their unborn babies to be addicted to an unhealthy, high-fat and high-sugar diet, research suggests. University of Adelaide researchers found a diet high in junk food causes children to have a preference for junk food once they have been weaned - the first time the addiction has been found to be present at such a young age. Study leader from the university's FOODplus Research Centre Dr Bev Muhlhausler said it was likely the addiction - similar to an opiod habit - was present at birth. Dr Muhlhausler said this meant children born to a mother who ate a diet high in junk food would need to eat more fat and sugar to experience the same good feeling, similar to someone addicted to opioids who needs to consume more of the drug to feel the same sensation.
Research Review of Body Image ProgramsPsychology Department, University of Melbourne 2002 In the United States a survey found 56% and 43% of women and men respectively reported body dissatisfaction. Body image dissatisfaction and extreme dieting is associated with depression in adolescents and adults. Through its effects on eating behaviour and physical activity, body dissatisfaction is likely to contribute to the development of overweight. For example, high body dissatisfaction and dieting predict binge eating. Binge eating, especially when combined with reduced physical activity, can lead to unhealthy weight gain.
Research Science reveals why you can't eat one potato chip Do you suffer from hedonic hyperphagia? That means ‘eating to excess for pleasure rather than hunger’ and it plagues millions around the world. The scientific secrets underpinning that awful reality about potato chips — eat one and you're apt to scarf 'em all down — began coming out of the bag in research presented at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. Tobias Hoch, Ph.D., who conducted the study, said the results shed light on the causes of a condition called "hedonic hyperphagia“. "That's the scientific term for 'eating to excess for pleasure, rather than hunger,'" Hoch said. "It's recreational over-eating that may occur in almost everyone at some time in life. And the chronic form is a key factor in the epidemic of overweight and obesity that here in the United States threatens health problems for two out of every three people."
Does Socioeconomic Status Count? The Victorian Lifestyle and Neighbourhood Study (2007), found a definite link between where you live and what you eat. The study found that compared to people living in a high SES (socioeconomic status) area, those in low SES areas were less likely to: • Purchase groceries that were low in fat, high in fibre, low in salt and sugar • Purchase fruit • Exercise at levels sufficient for health • Spend time walking Fast food outlets are more common in low-to-mid SES areas, consequently individuals in low SES areas were also more likely to buy and consume fast foods at home.
Urban Myths Detox: It is difficult to find any large and recent peer-reviewed studies that have tested the claims of detox kits. A group of early-career scientists, part of the group the Voice of Young Science, published a "detox dossier" that reviewed a bunch of popular detox products in 2009. They found none of the product manufacturers were able to provide evidence for their kits' claims, or even give a comprehensive definition of what they meant by "detox".
What should an Effective Program Include! • Psycho-education (including marketing strategies) • Nutrition • Address Behavioural Issues, Habits and Emotional Triggers • How to Develop Exercise Routines • Life Skills • Support/Counselling • Meditation
The Team Multidisciplinary: • Counsellor • Sports Psychologist • Nutritionist • Policy Writer • Clinical Psychologist • Physician • Entrepreneur