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Ban on targeted advertising of non-surgical cosmetic procedures to under-18s

Following a public consultation which ran from September to October 2020, the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) are introducing restrictions that will prohibit targeted advertising of cosmetic interventions to under-18s.

The new restrictions will come into effect on 25 May 2022 and will require that: n Ads for cosmetic interventions must not appear in nonbroadcast media directed at under-18s; n Ads for cosmetic interventions must not appear in other non-broadcast media where under-18s make up over 25% of the audience; and n Broadcast ads for cosmetic interventions must not appear during or adjacent to programmes commissioned for, principally directed at, or likely to appeal particularly to under-18s.

CAP and BCAP will conduct a 12-month, post-implementation review to ensure that the new rules are functioning as intended.

In a news item highlighting these changes, CAP and BCAP commented, ‘Children and young people are particularly vulnerable to body image pressures and negative body image perceptions are prevalent amongst those groups, which can have an impact on their self-esteem, wellbeing, mental health and behaviours. In particular, the period of adolescence has been highlighted in the evidence cited by consultation respondents as a life stage in which children and young people’s body image positivity may rapidly decline.

‘Children and young people’s body image perceptions and their susceptibility to pressures to change their appearance, including considering cosmetic interventions as a potential means to address those concerns, are influenced by a number of social and cultural factors. Nevertheless, the evidence shows there is potential that exposure to different forms of media including advertising, particularly those that focus on body image ‘improvements’ such as cosmetic intervention procedures, is likely to exacerbate body image dissatisfaction and negativity during vulnerable stages of their lives.’ n To read the full news item from CAP/BCAP, visit fht.org.uk/ IT-139-news-CAP n To read the updated CAP guidance on the marketing of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, visit fht.org.uk/IT-139news-CAP-guidance

Scientists win Nobel Prize for touch research

Last October, David Julius of the University of California, San Francisco, and Ardem Patapoutian of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, were awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for their research into identifying sensors on nerve cells that detect heat, cold and pressure.

According to an article published in ScienceNews, ‘the laureates discovered proteins called receptors that turn the burning heat from chili peppers or a hot stove, menthol’s cooling sensation or the pressure from a hug into nerve signals that can be sent to the brain. Those proteins are crucial to the sense of touch and for feeling pain.’ n Read more at fht.org.uk/IT-139-news-touch

Driving forward inclusivity in swimming

According to research from Sport England, 95% of black adults and 80% of black children in England either can’t or don’t swim. This is closely followed by Asian adults and children, with 93% and 79% who can’t or don’t swim, respectively.

In an article published in Health Club Management (healthclubmanagement. co.uk), Danielle Obe, Chair of the Black Swimming Association, highlighted further alarming statistics, including that of the 10% of athletes funded by UK Sport who were of Asian, Black and mixed heritage, only 1% were black, while among the aquatic workforce, only 3% of lifeguards, 3% of swimming volunteers and 2% of swimming coaches are of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage. Further still, Obe states that there is no representation at all at senior leadership or board level.

Obe told Health Club Management, ‘We can’t drive forward inclusion and diversity in acquatics without first tackling inherent systemic and institutional inequalities – we need to address the economic and social disparities between ethnic groups in the acquatics sector in the UK, which have led to these disproportionately low participation rates within African, Caribbean and Asian communities.

‘Established in 2020, the Black Swimming Association [thebsa.co.uk] began with a single commitment – to be the bridge between the acquatics sector and these disenfranchised communities. This isn’t a simple boardroom activity or quick fix, neither is it a one-size-fitsall approach, the sector must make a systematic, long-term and integrated approach to change. This begins with community engagement, research and collaboration to build trust, accountability and most importantly, build bridges into these disengaged communities the sector wishes to attract’.

For more information about the Black Swimming Association, visit thebsa.co.uk n To read the full article published by Health Club Management, visit fht.org.uk/ IT-139-news-swimming

Exhibition shows off process of making homegrown clothes

From 1 October to 18 December 2021, the Homegrown/Homespun Exhibition took place at the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, showcasing the work of a regenerative fashion project spearheaded by designer Patrick Grant, his social enterprise, Community Clothing, and North West England Fibreshed.

Throughout the spring and summer of 2021, the collaboratie turned unused land in Blackburn, Lancashire, into a field of flax and woad. The flax was then harvested, retted and spun into thread, which was woven live at the museum during the British Textile Biennial 2021, to create the first Homegrown/Homespun garment for Patrick Grant’s Community Clothing line.

Grant told the BBC, ‘In this country we used to be completely self-sufficient in clothing. Most clothes were linen or wool, and flax was grown all across the UK. In fact, in the 16th Century, it was law that every landowner had to dedicate a portion of their land to growing flax. We [the Homegrown/Homespun collaborative] want to see if it's possible to rebuild the UK flax and linen industry’. n Read more at fht.org.uk/IT-139-newshomegrown

in brief

Children of overweight mothers at higher risk of bowel cancer

An American study recently published in Gut suggests that people whose mothers were overweight or obese when pregnant are at a higher risk of developing bowel cancer later in life. The research team commented, ‘Given population trends in maternal obesity, which has multiplied in prevalence by nearly six since the 1960s, we may see a growing burden of early-onset [bowel cancer] for decades to come’. n Read more at fht.org.uk/IT-139news-cancer

COVID changes beauty trends

According to Mintel, the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the beauty industry and accelerated several existing consumer trends. These include ‘skinimalism’ – where shrinking budgets and more eco-conscious consumers are simplifying their beauty routines and buying brands that promote transparency, a minimalist approach and green credentials. Product houses are said to be tapping into this by promoting multifunctional products that, for example, act as both a lip balm and gloss. n Read more at fht.org.uk/IT-139news-mintel

Study reveals link between air pollution and mental health

A study recently published in British Journal of Psychiatry indicates that exposure to traffic-related air pollution is associated with an increased use of mental health services among people recently diagnosed with psychotic and mood disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. Dr Ioannis Bakolis, Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, and lead author of the study, said, ‘There is already evidence linking air pollution to the incidence of mental disorders, but our novel findings suggest that air pollution could also play a role in the severity of mental disorders for people with pre-existing mental health conditions.’ n Read more at fht.org.uk/IT-139news-pollution