10 Lessons for UPF Campaigners from The Addiction Economy

Addiction Economy Thought for Today - 10 Lessons for UPF Campaigners from The Addiction Economy

Joe and I really excited to launch our short and practical interpretation of our research on the Economic Drivers of Addiction at the International Consensus Conference on Food Addiction in London today.

It's going down great and aligned perfectly with the keynote presentation from Chris Van Tulleken author of Ultra Processed People - who said he thought it really interesting and relevant. Pointed us to new working group from the Royal College of Physicians which we will find out more about.

In summary they are:

1. Business, like water, will find a way - regulate to stimulate nourishing, health positive innovation

2. Evidence of harm and impacts on society are powerful tools for change, ensure they are rigorously researched and promoted

3. The 4 drivers of the Economic Model are critical for prevention and un-addiction - step them in their tracks

4. Promote evidence on how corporate disinformation is created and used and how to prevent it from happening

5. Policy and regulation must focus on the public interest, not the interests of industry and involve citizens and young people in particular

6. Beware of simplistic ideas of addiction - focus on structural actions to prevent addiction - regulation, advertising restrictions, tax, subsidies,

7. Understand the implications for prevention and un-addiction of the other models - Moral, Social, Biological and Psychological

8. Choose empowering and responsible language - eg don't call people 'addicts', say 'people harmed by their use of addictive products'

9. Involve the audiences you want to reach when designing public health messaging. People listen to people like them, especially young people.

10. Focus your attention on political action and regulation and stop lobbying

Love any views on this. Here's the article.

https://lnkd.in/ePAQp3yv