Request for expressions of interest - Scoping a Healthy Advertising and Sponsorship policy in Scotland

Request for expressions of interest

Obesity Action Scotland provides leadership and advocacy on preventing & reducing obesity & overweight in Scotland

The main aims of Obesity Action Scotland are:

1. To raise awareness and understanding of what drives obesity and the health problems associated with obesity and overweight with health practitioners, policy makers and the public

2. To evaluate current research and identify strategies to prevent obesity and overweight based on the best available evidence

3. To work with key organisations in Scotland, the rest of the UK and worldwide, to promote healthy weight and wellbeing

In line with its aims, Obesity Action Scotland commissions work that sets out key opportunities to change the diet and healthy weight environment in Scotland.

Scoping a pilot healthier local advertising and sponsorship policy in Scotland

In 2023, Obesity Action Scotland (OAS) produced Local Levers for Diet and Healthy Weight (lead author Professor Lindsay Jaacks) in partnership with the University of Edinburgh. This report (https://www.obesityactionscotland.org/news/local-levers-for-diet-and-healthy-weight/) identified restricting food advertising as a potentially effective local lever to help change our food system and support healthier weight environments. Whilst advertising and marketing of High Fat Sugar and Salt (HFSS) food and drink is not specifically mentioned in the Good Food Nation Act, developing a local policy restricting HFSS product advertising (as undertaken by Transport for London and Bristol City Council, for example) would appear to support the strategic direction of the National Good Food Nation plan in Scotland.

OAS would now like to further develop the recommendation made in their 2023 report by commissioning a scoping exercise to explore how local healthier food advertising policies could be developed in a Scottish context.

The pilot site will be the geographical area covered by NHS Ayrshire and Arran which includes the local authority areas of North, South and East Ayrshire. The pilot has synergies with other initiatives that the area is taking to improve population health.

The scoping exercise will include reviewing the process undertaken to develop such policies in England and Wales and exploring the steps required to adopt a healthier food advertising policy in Ayrshire and Arran. The exercise will include what would be covered in a policy e.g. outdoor advertising on buses, bus shelters, billboards and local sporting events.

It is suggested that a qualitative research method is undertaken to inform the study, interviewing key informants from the local authorities, Health Board, VCFSE organisations and other relevant actors on their views concerning developing a local healthier food advertising policy.

A final report will include:

· The findings from the review of the processes undertaken in England and Wales in developing a local healthier food advertising policy in Scotland;

· The findings from the qualitative research undertaken;

· A recommendation whether a local healthier food advertising policy can be progressed in Ayrshire and Arran and whether such a policy should be adopted by the Health Board and/or individual local authorities. In this instance, the governance processes the policy/policies would require should be detailed and a proposed timeline included.

· The work to be undertaken as soon as possible and be completed by 31 March 2026.

Available funding

£12,000 inclusive of VAT

Expressions of interest, including a detailed proposal on how the scoping exercise should be undertaken, should be made to:

Dr Robin Ireland, Interim Head, Obesity Action Scotland

At: robin.ireland@obesityactionscotland.org

By: 1700 on Friday 28th November 2025.