Insights
Personal insights and blogs from members of the SPECTRUM Consortium
In conversation... with Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, hosted by Dr Nason Maani

SPECTRUM Deputy Director and Impact Lead, Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, sits down with Dr Nason Maani to discuss her journey into public health and how to generate impact.
Why public involvement is crucial for quality research

Following the launch of our new public involvement group, SPECTRUM Research Fellow, Dr Parvati Perman-Howe, reminds us why working with members of the public is crucial to delivering quality research and shares her top tips for meaningful public involvement.
Industry influence: a barrier to progress in public health policy

SPECTRUM researchers Professor Mark Petticrew and Professor Jeff Collin discuss the influence of powerful unhealthy commodity industries as a significant barrier to progress in public health policy.
How can we turn the tide on obesity? Taking forward recommendations from the healthy weight strategy

Caroline Cerny from the Obesity Health Alliance shares highlights from our joint webinar on 16 November, exploring how to turn recommendations from the recently published healthy weight strategy into action.
Monitoring smoking behaviour across Scotland, Wales, and England

SPECTRUM Research Fellow, Dr Loren Kock, outlines recent progress from the Smoking Toolkit Study following the launch of their new website.
Ten years of Stoptober

Jamie Brown, University College London, and Martin Dockrell, Public Health England, reflect on the Stoptober national smoking cessation campaign as it enters its tenth year.
Putting the country’s health first on the route to Covid-19 recovery

This week marks Global Week for Action on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
One year on from the Obesity Strategy: How far have we come, how far to go?

Caroline Cerny, Alliance Lead at the Obesity Health Alliance, marks one year of the Government’s landmark Tackling Obesity strategy.
In Conversation… with Professor Linda Bauld, hosted by Dr Lauren Carters-White

SPECTRUM Director, Professor Linda Bauld, discusses her path into public health, highlights of her career to date, and her science communication work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Potential withdrawal of online advertising ban of unhealthy food

Dr Lauren Carters-White explains why the news that the Government is potentially reneging on their proposal to ban online advertisements of HFSS products is a particularly concerning one - especially as this was highlighted as a flagship policy in Summer 2020 and a key part of the UK Government’s new obesity strategy
What does the new UK Government legislation on unhealthy food promotions mean for public health?

SPECTRUM Research Fellow, Dr Lauren Carters-White, discusses opportunities and challenges around the recent UK Government announcement of unhealthy food promotions legislation.
Pervasive and inescapable: parents’ and children’s views of online advertising of unhealthy food and drink to children
Dr Lauren White has written a blog on her PhD, which examined parents’ and children’s views on the regulation of online advertising of unhealthy food and drink to children
What next for tobacco control in Scotland?
Professor Niamh Shortt queries the next steps for tobacco control in Scotland, in a blog for The Centre for Research on Environment Society and Health (CRESH)