Abstract
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Objectives: Sponsorship is recognised as a significant marketing tool and restricting
unhealthy food sponsorship of children’s sport has been recommended by leading health
agencies as a contribution towards preventing childhood obesity. This study aimed to determine
the junior sporting community’s support for policy interventions to restrict unhealthy
food sponsorship.
Methods: Sports clubs known to have food sponsors and representing the most popular
sports for Australian children across a range of demographic areas were recruited.
Interview-based questionnaires were conducted at clubs with parents (n = 200) and officials
(n = 20), and with governing sporting associations (n = 20). Questionnaires measured
respondents’ attitudes towards sponsorship and support for sponsorship regulations.
Results: Many officials and parents perceived children to be ‘very’ influenced by elite sport
sponsorship (65% of association officials, 53% of parents and 45% of club officials). Children
were thought to be less influenced by sponsorship of their own sporting clubs (10%, 11%
and 10%, respectively). However, 50% of officials and 70% of parents supported restrictions
to children’s sport sponsorship. Respondents were most supportive of restricting the use
of unhealthy food logos on children’s uniforms.
Conclusions: Restricting unhealthy food sponsorship is supported by the sporting community
and policy change is needed to reduce the perceived impact of this marketing.
Alternative funding mechanisms have the potential to maintain sport funding whist reducing
promotional opportunities for unhealthy food