Food and Public Health

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Disease Prevention ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Food Culture ◽  
Health History ◽  
Global Food

Food and Public Health is an easy to read text that helps students understand the history of modern issues in public health nutrition and health promotion. The book’s chapters include practical real-world applications and cases, which serve as examples for extension activities. For instructors, the text offers discussion and writing prompts for each chapter, as well as sample quiz questions. In its 12 chapters, the book covers more than one hundred years of food and public health history including the development of the dietary guidelines, current applications of health behavior theory, approaches to health promotion and disease prevention including food policy, new challenges in curbing food marketing to kids, obesogenic environments, and best practices in chronic disease prevention. Food insecurity is a concept discussed throughout the book with an emphasis on resultant public health problems of both hunger and obesity. The text encourages reflections on global food issues, such as how food, culture, and food insecurity intersect in a global food system.

scholarly journals Public health nutrition and food policy

2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 591-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Caraher ◽  
John Coveney
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Food Market ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Developed World ◽  
Global Food

AbstractFood in its many manifestations allows us to explore the global control of health and to examine the ways in which food choice is moulded by many interests. The global food market is controlled by a small number of companies who operate a system that delivers ‘cheap’ food to the countries of the developed world. This ‘cheap’ food comes at a price, which externalises costs to the nation state in terms of health consequences (diabetes, coronary heart disease and other food-related diseases) and to the environment in terms of pollution and the associated clean-up strategies. Food policy has not to any great extent dealt with these issues, opting instead for an approach based on nutrition, food choice and biomedical health. Ignoring wider elements of the food system including issues of ecology and sustainability constrains a broader understanding within public health nutrition. Here we argue that public health nutrition, through the medium of health promotion, needs to address these wider issues of who controls the food supply, and thus the influences on the food chain and the food choices of the individual and communities. Such an upstream approach to food policy (one that has been learned from work on tobacco) is necessary if we are seriously to influence food choice.

scholarly journals At the crossroads: new paradigms of food security, public health nutrition and school food

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1020-1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah M Ashe ◽  
Roberta Sonnino
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
School Food ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
New Research

AbstractPublic health nutrition sits at the nexus of a global crisis in food, environmental and health systems that has generated – along with numerous other problems – an urgent and changing problem of food insecurity. The ‘new’ food insecurity, however, is different from the old: it is bimodal, encompassing issues of both under- and over-consumption, hunger and obesity, quantity and quality; it has assumed a decidedly urban dimension; and it implicates rich and poor countries alike. The complexity of the expressions of this challenge requires new approaches to public health nutrition and food policy that privilege systemic, structural and environmental factors over individual and mechanistic ones. In this context, the current paper argues that school food systems rise with buoyant potential as promising intervention sites: they are poised to address both modes of the food security crisis; integrate systemic, structural and environmental with behavioural approaches; and comprise far-reaching, system-wide efforts that influence the wider functioning of the food system. Based on a discussion of Bogotá and other pioneering policies that explicitly aim to create a broader food system with long-term foundations for good public health and food security, the paper suggests a new research and action agenda that gives special attention to school food in urban contexts.

scholarly journals The health implications of distrust in the food system: findings from the dimensions of trust in food systems scale (DOTIFS scale)

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Tonkin ◽  
Trevor Webb ◽  
Julie Henderson ◽  
Paul R. Ward ◽  
John Coveney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Consumer Trust ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Consumer trust in food systems is essential for consumers, food industry, policy makers and regulators. Yet no comprehensive tool for measuring consumer trust in food systems exists. Similarly, the impact that trust in the food system has on health-related food behaviours is yet to be empirically examined. The aim of this research was to develop a comprehensive instrument to measure trust in the food system (the Dimensions of Trust in Food Systems Scale (DOTIFS scale) and use it to explore whether trust in the food system impacts consumers’ health-related behaviours. Methods The DOTIFS scale was developed using sociological theories of trust and pre-existing instruments measuring aspects of trust. It was pilot tested and content validity was assessed with 85 participants. A mixed-methods exploration of the health-related behaviours of 18 conveniently sampled Australian consumers with differing trust scores determined by the DOTIFS scale was then conducted. During March–July 2019 shopping- and home-observations were used to assess participants’ food safety practices and exposure to public health fortification programs, while the CSIRO Healthy Diet Score determined their adherence to national dietary guidelines. Results The DOTIFS scale was found to have high comprehension, ease of use and content validity. Statistical analysis showed scale scores significantly trended as predicted by participants’ stated level of trust. Differences were found in the way individuals with more or less trust in the food system comply with national dietary guidelines, are exposed to public health fortification programs, and adhere to recommended food safety practices. Conclusions The DOTIFS scale is a comprehensive, sociologically- and empirically- informed assessment of consumer trust in food systems that can be self-administered online to large populations and used to measure changes in consumer trust over time. The differences in health-related behaviours between individuals with varying levels of trust warrant further investigation.

scholarly journals FOOD POLICY COUNCIL AS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR FOOD ISSUES

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Masashi Tachikawa
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Structural Aspect ◽  
Food Culture ◽  
Geographical Differences ◽  
American Experience ◽  
The North ◽  
Food Miles ◽  
Food Policy Council

The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the nature of food issue in our society and propose a forum to discuss multi-facet issues of food based on the North American experience, such as food policy council (FPC). Contemporary food system in Japan is full of problems, such as low level self-sufficiency, food loss, problem of food access, large food miles, declining food culture under globalization, and so on. After reviewing these food related issues, the paper refers to the US and Canadian experiences on food policy council as a model to provide a forum for various stakeholders with different or even conflicting interests. Based on observations on the FPCs, such as Knoxville (US) and Toronto (Canada), author emphasized public aspect of food issues and draw attentions to differences in structural aspects of food between North America and Japan. The paper also tries to draw attention to differences between North America and Japan in terms of food issues. In particular, the demographic and geographical differences would exist of a major structural aspect when considering food issue in Japan. 

scholarly journals Demand-Side Food Policies for Public and Planetary Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 5924
Author(s):  
Elisabeth H.M. Temme ◽  
Reina E. Vellinga ◽  
Henri de Ruiter ◽  
Susanna Kugelberg ◽  
Mirjam van de Kamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Policy Instrument ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Effective Policy ◽  
Food Policies

Background: The current food system has major consequences for the environment and for human health. Alignment of the food policy areas of mitigating climate change and public health will ensure coherent and effective policy interventions for sustaining human health and the environment. This paper explores literature on demand-side policies that aim to reduce consumption of animal-based foods, increase plant-based foods, and reduce overconsumption. Methods: We searched for publications, published between January 2000 and December 2019, considering the above policy domains. Articles were distinguished for type of policy instrument, for topic via keywords and examples were given. Results: The majority of demand-side policies focus on preventing overweight and obesity, using all types of policy instruments including more forceful market-based policies. Hardly any examples of public policies explicitly aiming to lower animal-based foods consumption were found. Policies combining health and sustainability objectives are few and mainly of the information type. Discussion: Moving towards environmentally sustainable and healthy diets is challenging as the implemented demand-side policies focus largely on human health, and not yet on environmental outcomes, or on win-wins. Policies targeting foods from the health perspective can contribute to lower environmental impacts, by indicating suitable animal-based food replacers, and aiming at avoiding overconsumption of energy dense-nutrient poor foods. Preferred policies include a variety of instruments, including strong measures. Conclusions: Working solutions are available to ensure coherent and effective demand side food policies aligning public health and environmental aims. Implementation of aligned and effective policy packages is urgent and needed.

scholarly journals Methodology for developing and evaluating food-based dietary guidelines and a Healthy Eating Index for Ethiopia: a study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e027846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfaye Hailu Bekele ◽  
Jeanne JHM de Vries ◽  
Laura Trijsburg ◽  
Edith Feskens ◽  
Namukolo Covic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Food System ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Link Type

IntroductionFood-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are used to promote and maintain healthy eating in a population, by providing country-specific guidance. However, many African countries like Ethiopia do not have FBDGs. This paper describes the methodology for the development of Ethiopian FBDGs and for creating and evaluating a Healthy Eating Index and a scoring tool that can be used to monitor the adherence of the population to FBDGs.Methods and analysisA multidisciplinary technical working group will be tasked to develop FBDGs for the general population above 2 years of age based on identification of priority diet-related public health problems and risk factors, and a systematic review of dietary patterns in relation to the identified priority health outcomes, following a multistep process. FBDGs will be translated into daily food choices for specific subpopulations by applying linear programming using data from the National Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) of 2011. FBDGs will be evaluated for cultural appropriateness, acceptability, consumer understanding and practicality. A dietary gap assessment will be conducted by comparing the national food supply with the country’s food demand. In addition an Ethiopian Healthy Eating Index (EHEI) will be developed based on the FBDGs using the NFCS data. The EHEI will be evaluated by comparing the EHEI Score based on 24 hours diet recall with that of the EHEI Score based on a Food Frequency Questionnaire, by analysing the association of the EHEI Score with population characteristics and micronutrient intake with or without additional adjustment for energy intake. Finally, a brief Food Quality Screening tool scoring for the important EHEI components will be developed to enable evaluation for counselling.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is received from the Scientific and Ethical Review Office of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.A dissemination workshop will be organised with key implementing sectors of the food system for a healthier diet (http://a4nh.cgiar.org/our-research/research-flagships/) and with key public and private partners. The findings from this study will be translated into FBDGs and shared through conferences, reports and the mass media (TV and radio).Trial registration numberNCT03394963; Pre-results.

scholarly journals Challenges to create an evidence-based programme register in France

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Arwidson ◽  
C Verry-Jolive
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Disease Prevention ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
The United States ◽  
Expert Committee ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Addiction Prevention ◽  
Prevention Interventions

Abstract The majority of health promotion and disease prevention interventions implemented in both targeted and general populations have unknown effectiveness. This contrasts with drug treatments which must be proven effective before they can be prescribed. The recent evaluation of four addiction prevention interventions chosen by public health implementers showed that two had positive impacts on addiction prevention and two had deleterious effects. Despite over 50 years’ worth of scientific literature on the evaluation of health promotion and disease prevention programmes, it is little known and little used by project promoters. These promoters cannot be blamed for not using this literature as it is often difficult to access, to read and to understand. Even if they successfully access and read the articles, interventions are often not described properly, rendering the text useless for implementers. It is therefore necessary to create interfaces that translate this literature into a form useful for funders and project promoters. As a result, Public Health France has studied existing portals in both the United States and in Europe. An independent double-reviewing process comparable to the review process used by scientific journals for manuscripts as in the Norwegian portal was chosen for this reason.An expert committee has worked during more than one year to design and test a scoring grid that will be published soon. The 80+ programme evaluations found in the scientific literature will now be reviewed with the approved grid. Public Health France has also begun visiting each region in France to present the portal to local health authorities and NGOs to enable project promoters to submit their programmes soon and to promote the use of evidence-based or research-based programmes when possible.

Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter D Hurd ◽  
Justinne Guyton ◽  
Ardis Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Disease Prevention ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
Prevention And Health Promotion ◽  
Lack Of Exercise ◽  
Long Term Impact

Changing human behavior is challenging; however, having a long-term impact on the improved health of a population is a compelling reason for an increased public health commitment by individuals in pharmacy. Any of the activities that individuals and populations pursue have a direct effect on their health, from drinking clean water to breathing fresh air. Health behaviors mitigate or exacerbate chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke, and human behaviors can affect the resurgence of infectious diseases (and the emergence of new infectious diseases). Other behavioral factors, such as tobacco use, poor diet, lack of exercise, alcohol consumption, at-risk sexual behaviors, and avoidable injuries, contribute prominently to increased morbidity and mortality. This chapter addresses basic public health principles of disease prevention and health promotion, looking at consumer health education, health literacy, social media, and program design and evaluation.

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