Table 2

Description of concepts in the concept map

StatementDescription
AnticipationFood and drink companies foresee the introduction of the regulations,* and possibly other related legislation for example, volume and location price promotion.
Availability of HFSS productsAvailability of all HFSS foods and beverages, both within and outside the scope of the regulations.* in physical and online shops.
BodyweightIn terms of BMI, overweight or obesity status.
Calorie consumptionTotal energy intake of individuals.
Child purchasing requests for HFSS productsDegree to which children make purchasing requests to caregivers for all HFSS products, both within and outside the scope of the regulations.*
Commercial food systemInterdependent networks of commercial entities involved in agriculture and fisheries, food processing and production, storage and distribution, wholesaling and retailing, and preparation and marketing of raw, processed and ready to eat foods.21
Company engagement with health issuesDegree to which food and beverage companies orientate their business around public health goals.
Company profitabilityA company’s ability to make profit.
Consumption of regulated HFSS productsIndividual’s intake of foods and beverages within the scope of the regulations.*
Consumption of unregulated productsIndividual’s intake of foods and beverages that are not within the scope of the regulations.*
DefinitionsInformation used to define or enforce the regulation,* including the UK Nutrient Profiling Model and the food categories from the Sugar Reduction Strategy. Importantly, the regulations* cover a group of foods that is different from those covered by other UK dietary public health regulations. Enforcement is based on information provided by companies.
Demand for regulated HFSS productsPublic desire to purchase or consume foods and beverages within the scope of the regulations.*
Demand for unregulated productsPublic desire to purchase or consume foods and beverages outside of the scope of the regulations.*
Digital surveillanceDigital data collated by website to inform regulation* enforcement.
EmploymentNumber of people employed in the commercial food system.
Exposure to advertising for unregulated productsExposure† to adverts for products outside of the scope of the regulations. For foods and beverages, this could be HFSS products within companies’ portfolios that are outside of the scope of the regulations, healthier products (eg, fruit and vegetables), or food delivery companies. Also includes non-food and beverage products and services, but not clear what health impacts they might have.
Exposure to advertising for regulated HFSS productsExposure† to advertising for food and beverages within the scope of the regulations.*
Exposure to unregulated marketing of HFSS productsExposure† to advertising for all HFSS products on media that are outside of the scope of the regulations.* Includes offline advertising (eg, print media), forms of marketing online that are exempt from the regulations (eg, in owned media), sponsorship, brand advertising and creative modes of marketing that are hard to capture with regulation.
HealthOverall health, including and beyond bodyweight and NCDs.
Lobbying against further interventionsActivities undertaken by, or on behalf of, food and beverage companies to resist further policy or regulations.
Market shareThe size of the total market held by a company. Few companies that each hold a large market share creates a concentrated market.
Portion sizeSize of food and beverage products in grams or calories, or recommended portion size.
PricePrice of food and beverage products, including price discounts.
Product innovation for unregulated productsDeveloping new products that are outside of the scope of the regulations,* or reformulating existing products so they are no longer within the scope of the regulations. Could include reformulation using artificial ingredients or developing for example, saltier products that are currently an exempt category. Some categories of products are easier to change than others, and some companies are better able to respond in this way than others.
Public awarenessDegree of public awareness of both the regulations* and the problems they are trying to address.
Public supportDegree of public support for the regulations.*
Purchases of regulated HFSS productsSales (from company perspective) or purchases (from individual perspective) of food and beverage products within the scope of the regulations.*
Purchases of unregulated productsSales (from company perspective) or purchases (from individual perspective) of food and beverage products outside of the scope of the regulations.*
Regulatory and political landscapeWider landscape of regulation and policy, including others relating to marketing (eg, location and volume price regulations) and COVID-19. The degree to which the regulations* harmonise with the wider political and regulatory landscape.
Regulatory precedentImplementation of the regulations* serves as precedent for any future regulation.
Risk of diet-related NCDsRisk of developing NCDs influenced by dietary behaviours.
Social norms around foodImplicit or explicit beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours about eating, at both an individual and family level.
SocietyThe wider social system in which the food system is embedded.
Societal shiftsExposure† to advertising affects social norms and may contribute to societal changes in consumerism and culture.

  • *The regulations apply to online and TV advertising for a subset of HFSS products, defined by the 2004/2005 UK Nutrient Profiling Model and within particular categories from the Sugar Reduction Strategy. This means there are HFSS products (unregulated HFSS) and non-HFSS products outside of the scope of the regulations.

  • †Exposure is a function of advertising prevalence, but is also dependent on individual-level factors (eg, frequency of media use).

  • BMI, body mass index; HFSS, high fat, salt and sugar; NCDs, non-communicable diseases.