Dietary advice for improving cardiovascular health in UK running magazines: A content analysis

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the dietary advice for cardiovascular health in UK running magazines.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative and quantitative content analysis was carried out on 12 issues (2014/2015) of Men’s Running (MR), Runner’s World (RW) and Women’s Running (WR). Coding of content took place into three themes: diet information, format and cardiovascular health.

Findings

Dietary advice comprised 17, 18 and 21 per cent of content in MR, RW and WR, respectively. A Mediterranean dietary pattern (e.g. fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, wholegrains and legumes, oily fish) was recommended for cardiovascular health and lowering of BP and plasma cholesterol. Single components of this dietary pattern were emphasised combined with advice to alter fat intake and increase intake of antioxidant nutrients and polyphenols, while advice to restrict salt was scarce. There was minimal emphasis on weight control. Information was often presented as single-page compilations of multiple headlines and snippets. Lexical imperatives and magisterial vocabulary connoted learned expertise and citation of experts and journals was common.

Research limitations/implications

Future research may qualitatively investigate how readers interpret and make use of the nutrition information and dietary advice provided in these magazines. A critical question would be to address whether these dietary messages lead to cardio-protective dietary behaviour.

Practical implications

Improved journalistic reporting of emerging nutritional science is also needed. Magazine editors and journalists need to follow reporting guidelines for science and provide more nuanced information.

Originality/value

This research is the first to describe the content and style of dietary content for cardiovascular health in running magazines.

Citation

Righton, O., Egan, P., Russell, J.M., Cook, T.M. and Barker, M.E. (2017), "Dietary advice for improving cardiovascular health in UK running magazines: A content analysis", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 47 No. 1, pp. 18-30. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-12-2015-0155