Birger Boutrup Jensen

An exploration of adolescent snacking conventions and dilemmas

Purpose – Snacking has been characterized as normatively unrestricted and identified as one of the main causes of adolescent obesity. The purpose of this paper is not to question the relation between obesity and snacking, but to ask to which extent adolescent snacking is socially unrestricted and to explore adolescent perceptions of the potential conventions and dilemmas involved in snacking.Design/methodology/approach – Referring to previous research in food choice dilemmas and conventions, the paper starts out by discussing potential implications for adolescent snacking in different social contexts. Following this, the design, implementation and results of three focus groups, aiming at an exploration of adolescent snacking perceptions is described.Findings – By identifying two distinct forms of adolescent snacking, i.e. “in‐between meals” and “fun snacks”, the results of the focus groups falsify the perception of snacking as socially unrestricted and offer some interesting insights into the conventions,...

EURRECA- A framework for considering evidence in public health nutrition policy development

A key step toward developing appropriate evidence-based public health nutrition policies is determining exactly how that evidence should be collected and assessed. Despite this the extent to which different evidence bases influence policy selection is rarely explored. This article presents an epistemological framework which offers a range of considerations affecting this process generally and with particular implications for both micronutrient requirements and the role of behavior in the policy-making process. Qualitative case study data covering 6 European countries/regions (Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, Nordic countries, Poland, and Spain), and three micronutrients (folate, iodine, and vitamin D), have been presented to illustrate the relevance of the Framework.

Consumer-oriented innovation in the food and personal care products sectors: understanding consumers and using their insights in the innovation process.

Abstract: In this chapter, we clarify the concept of consumer-oriented innovation in the food and personal products sectors and define it as a process towards the development of a new product or service in which an integrated analysis and understanding of consumers’ wants, needs and preference formation play a key role . We then outline relevant streams of research that may promote the implementation of consumer-oriented innovation in these sectors. We first review research on understanding consumers, notably on quality perception, associated methods, and their application in innovation processes. We then review research on innovation management, emphasizing the use of consumer insight information in innovation processes. We conclude that a better integration of consumer research and research on innovation management would benefit the innovation process.

Consumers’ multifaceted deal knowledge in a grocery retail setting

Abstract Despite its relevance to retailers, studies of consumers’ deal knowledge have been few. This study explores consumers’ deal knowledge before, during, and after the store visit applying a between-subjects field-study design with 1204 respondents. In particular, the authors investigate perception of deal price status, typical deal price knowledge, and deal-spotting ability. Results show reasonably stable knowledge of typical deal prices, while knowledge of deal price status and deal-spotting ability improves significantly during grocery shopping. Surprisingly, consumers’ deal knowledge is not conditional on purchasing a special thus indicating that most consumers, consciously or unconsciously, scan for promotion signals when shopping groceries. In addition, the results suggest consumers are not easily fooled, as the vast majority is able to spot ‘good’ and ‘bad’ deals, while also possessing typical deal price knowledge. Furthermore, the findings suggest that consumers store internal reference deal prices. Retailers are therefore well advised to consider mixed depth and creative discount patterns to prevent ‘perfect’ perceptions of typical deal prices.

Our Priceless Youth: What do They Know about Alcohol Prices?

Young people’s excessive alcohol consumption is considered a societal problem in many countries, and higher alcohol taxes are often suggested as a possible remedy. Price increases cannot be effective if unnoticed, but little is known about young people’s alcohol price knowledge and sensitivity, as aggregate price sensitivity studies have produced ambiguous results. Applying individual data, this study examines young people’s knowledge of retail alcohol prices using two price memory tests. Results show that the majority holds fairly accurate reference prices, while a large segment intentionally checks in-store alcohol prices, though large variations exist across categories. Furthermore, logistic regressions revealed ‘purchased a special’ and ‘simple prices’ as determinants of alcohol price knowledge. The results suggest that alcohol tax increases must be significant to be effective when targeting young people. Otherwise, such increases go unnoticed and other policy instruments may perform better, not least when targeting the youngest, and thus most vulnerable group.

FRI0674 Using higher image resolution of magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine identifies more inflammatory and structural lesions in patients with axial spondyloarthritis

Background The vertebrae of the cervical spine are rather small and it may be difficult to assess if small areas with signal intensity changes represent the bones, joints or entheses, or derive from the surrounding blood vessels. Objectives To investigate if image resolution affects the assessment of inflammatory and structural lesions of the cervical spine. Methods Forty-nine patients with axial spondyloarthritis according to the ASAS criteria started anti-TNF treatment and had “standard” resolution (std-res) and “high” resolution (high-res) MRI sequences of the cervical spine performed at baseline and after 48 weeks. 3 patients had follow-up scan already after 6–24 weeks due to study exclusion. Std-res: STIR sequence: Voxel size 5.0 mm3 (slice thickness 4.0, spatial resolution 1x1.25); T1W sequence: voxel size 4.5 mm3 (slice thickness 4.0, spatial resolution 0.9x1.25). High-res: STIR sequence: Voxel size 3.1 mm3 (slice thickness 3.5, spatial resolution 0.8x1.11); T1W sequence: voxel size 1.4 mm3 (slice thickness 3.0, spatial resolution 0.6x0.76). Images were assessed in known chronology by an experienced axSpA MRI reader (SJP) blinded to clinical data. High-res and std-res were read in random order. MRI lesions of inflammation, fat and new bone formation were defined according to the Canada-Denmark working group [1,2]. Erosions were not assessed. Results Inflammatory lesions: In 9 of 43 patients (21%), inflammatory lesions were detected in the cervical spine at baseline at std-res, while this was detected in 14 of 43 patients (33%) at high-res. Using high-res, as compared to std-res, 6 patients were reclassified from negative to positive for inflammation, 1 patient was reclassified from positive to negative, and 8/28 patients remained classified as positive/negative, p=0.13 by Exact McNemar test. The mean inflammation score was significantly higher at high-res compared to std-res (1.7 (SD 4.5) vs. 0.8 (SD 2.7), p=0.04 by paired t-test). Fat lesions: 11 of 43 patients (26%) had fat lesions in the cervical spine at baseline using std-res, while 10 of 43 patients (23%) had this using high-res. The mean fat score was significantly higher at high-res compared with std-res (1.6 (SD 3.5) vs. 0.8 (SD 1.8), p=0.02 by paired t-test). Bone spurs/ankylosis: 11 of 43 patients (26%) had bone spurs/ankylosis of the cervical spine at baseline at std-res, while 10 of 43 patients (23%) using high-res. The mean new bone formation score was significantly higher at high-res compared with std-res (2.7 (SD 6.1) vs. 1.4 (SD 3.5), p=0.01 by paired t-test). Responsiveness: Standardized response mean for inflammation score at std-res was 0.15, and at high-res 0.14. Structural lesions remained largely unchanged in all patients. Conclusions More patients were classified as having inflammatory lesions in the cervical spine when using high-res MRI, compared to std-res. Likewise, mean scores of inflammatory lesions, fatty lesions and new bone formation were significantly higher compared with std-res. Further studies are needed to investigate the clinical significance of these findings as well as the frequency of these minor lesions in healthy controls. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01029847. References Lambert RGW, et al. J Rheumatol 2009;S84:3–17. Østergaard M, et al. J Rheumatol 2009;S84:18–34. Disclosure of Interest None declared

The Anatomical Distribution of Inflammation, Fat, Erosion and New Bone Formation in The Spine Assessed According To The Canada-Denmark MRI Definitions in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis

Background On MRI, patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) demonstrate lesions at several anatomical locations. These locations include the vertebral bodies, e.g. anterior and posterior corners and lesions without relation to the corners, and also the posterior segments of the vertebrae, e.g. the costo-transversal joints, costo-vertebral joints, facet joints, spinous/transverse processes, and surrounding soft tissue. The Canada-Denmark (CanDen) definitions of MRI lesions in the spine allows a detailed evaluation of all these anatomical locations for inflammation, fat, erosions and new bone formation.(1–3) Objectives To assess the anatomical location of positive scores by the CanDen MRI scoring system of the spine. Methods 49 patients with axial SpA (ASAS criteria) and clinical indication for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) inhibitor, including BASDAI >40 mm, had MRI of the spine performed at baseline. 51% were male. Median symptom duration (range) was 12 (0–45) years. Images were scored using the CANDEN MRI scoring system by a reader blinded to clinical data. ResultsTable 1. Percentage of patients with a score ≥1 according to the CANDEN MRI scoring system by anatomical location and category (inflammation, fat, erosion, bone spurs/ankylosis). No soft tissue inflammation was found Cervical spine Thoracic spine Lumbar spine (C2/C3 to C7/T1) (T1/T2 to T12/L1) (L1/L2 to L5/S1) Anterior corner lesions Inflammation 16% 41% 51% Fat/Erosion 16%/0% 45%/2% 33%/0% Bone spurs/Ankylosis 6%/2% 0%/2% 4%/6% Posterior corner lesions Inflammation 4% 29% 18% Fat/Erosion 8%/0% 16%/2% 22%/0% Bone spurs/Ankylosis 2%/0% 0%/6% 0%/2% Non-corner lesions Inflammation 4% 14% 10% Fat/Erosion 2%/2% 4%/8% 12%/4% Bone spurs/Ankylosis 0%/0% 0%/6% 0%/2% Antero-lateral corner lesions Inflammation NA 22% 29% Fat/Erosion NA 16%/0% 18%/0% Postero-lateral corner lesions Inflammation NA 33% 8% Fat/Erosion NA 18%/0% 6%/0% Costo-transversal joint transverse process Inflammation NA 4% 2% Facet joint Inflammation 6% 8% 6% Fat/Erosion 0%/0% 2%/0% 2%/0% Bone spurs/Ankylosis 10%/0% 8%/0% 8%/0% Spinous process Inflammation 0% 2% 0% In total, 10 of 49 patients (20%) had involvement of the costo-transversal joints, facet joints, spinous/transverse processes or soft tissue. Conclusions The most frequent lesion in patients with axSpA were inflammation and fat lesions in the rim of the vertebral bodies (the anterior, posterior, antero-lateral and postero-lateral corner lesions) in the thoracic and lumbar spine. 1/5 of the patients had involvement of the posterior segments. References Østergaard et al. J Rheumatol 2009;36-S84:18–34 Lambert et al. J Rheumatol 2009;36-S84:3–17 Pedersen et al. J Rheumatol 2009;36-S84:35–38 Chiowchanwisawakit et al. J Rheumatol 2009;36-S84:39–47 Disclosure of Interest None declared