Promotion Of Healthy Foods Research Articles

Promotion of Healthy and Adequate Food in a rural territory: pathways to reflection and praxis with Community Health Workers

RESUMO A garantia de uma alimentação adequada e saudável está no rol de direitos humanos necessários para promoção da saúde. As desigualdades na distribuição de recursos e dificuldades de acesso a políticas públicas resultam em piores condições de vida das populações do campo, onde a insegurança alimentar e nutricional está mais presente que nos centros urbanos. Assim, as equipes de saúde da família do campo enfrentam diferentes desafios no processo de trabalho, sendo os Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) profissionais-chave para a garantia do acesso ao serviço. Este trabalho apresenta o caminho teórico-metodológico dos Círculos de Cultura com quatro ACS do campo no Distrito Federal e as percepções desses profissionais sobre alimentação adequada e saudável pela lente da análise do discurso. Ao longo de dois encontros, foi possível refletir sobre todas as dimensões abordadas pelo referencial teórico, com exceção da etnia/raça, além da conscientização acerca das relações de poder no território. Por meio da educação popular, vislumbra-se a transformação da realidade com ações coletivas para melhoria do acesso a alimentos saudáveis no território. Os Círculos de Cultura se mostraram um caminho potente para construção do conhecimento aliada a um olhar crítico sobre a determinação social no território.

The effect of healthy food promotion through lunch boxes on the knowledge, attitudes and habits of elementary school students

The effect of healthy food promotion through lunch boxes on the knowledge, attitudes and habits of elementary school students

Assessing the Healthfulness of University Food Environments: A Systematic Review of Methods and Tools.

The availability, promotion, and price of healthy foods within the university food environment may impact students' dietary choices. This systematic review summarizes the tools and methods used to assess the healthfulness of university food environments where many students spend a significant portion of their emerging adulthood. Thirty-six global studies published between 2012 and 2022 were sourced from PubMed (NNLM), Cochrane Library (Wiley), Web of Science (Clarivate), APA PsycInfo (EBSCO), CINHAL Complete (EBSCO), ProQuest Nursing, and Allied Health, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Of the included studies, 58% were institutional-level audits, 17% examined individual-level perceptions, and 25% combined both. Most institutional-level audits focused on one aspect of the food environment (e.g., eateries, vending machines). For studies examining multiple spaces within the campus environment (38%), comprehensive assessments were limited, and most studies had to employ a combination of assessment tools. Surveys were most often used to gather individual perceptions about the food environment. The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS) was the most commonly used tool across all studies. This review highlights the need for a standardized tool, method, or a "healthy" benchmark for specific use at universities to improve methodological rigor and comparability of findings across institutions.

Prevalence of dyslipidaemia within Polish nurses. Cross-sectional study - single and multiple linear regression models and ROC analysis

BackgroundMaintaining good health is vital not only for own well-being, but also to ensure high-quality patient care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dyslipidaemia and to determine the factors responsible for the development of this disorder among Polish nurses. Lipid profile disorders are the most prevalent and challenging risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Nurses have significant potential and play a crucial role in providing care and treatment services.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved nurses and included measurements of body weight composition (Tanita MC-980), body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure (Welch Allyn 4200B), lipid profile, and fasting blood glucose (CardioChek PA).ResultsThe results revealed that more than half of the nurses (60.09%) were overweight or obese, with 57.28% exhibiting elevated blood pressure, 32.25% having fasting glucose levels, and 69.14% experiencing dyslipidaemia. Multiple model evaluation using ROC curves demonstrated that multiple models accurately predicted hypercholesterolemia (AUC = 0.715), elevated LDL (AUC = 0.727), and elevated TC (AUC = 0.723) among Polish nurses.ConclusionComprehensive education programmes should be implemented that include the latest advances in cardiovascular disease prevention. Regular check-ups, as well as the promotion and availability of healthy food in hospital canteens, are essential.

A systems framework for implementing healthy food retail in grocery settings

BackgroundFood retailers can be reluctant to initiate healthy food retail activities in the face of a complex set of interrelated drivers that impact the retail environment. The Systems Thinking Approach for Retail Transformation (START) is a determinants framework created using qualitative systems modelling to guide healthy food retail interventions in community-based, health-promoting settings. We aimed to test the applicability of the START map to a suite of distinct healthy food marketing and promotion activities that formed an intervention in a grocery setting in regional Victoria, Australia.MethodsA secondary analysis was undertaken of 16 previously completed semi-structured interviews with independent grocery retailers and stakeholders. Interviews were deductively coded against the existing START framework, whilst allowing for new grocery-setting specific factors to be identified. New factors and relationships were used to build causal loop diagrams and extend the original START systems map using Vensim.ResultsA version of the START map including aspects relevant to the grocery setting was developed (“START-G”). In both health-promoting and grocery settings, it was important for retailers to ‘Get Started’ with healthy food retail interventions that were supported by a proof-of-concept and ‘Focus on the customer’ response (with grocery-settings focused on monitoring sales data). New factors and relationships described perceived difficulties associated with disrupting a grocery-setting ‘Supply-side status quo’ that promotes less healthy food and beverage options. Yet, most grocery retailers discussed relationships that highlighted the potential for ‘Healthy food as innovation’ and ‘Supporting cultural change through corporate social responsibility and leadership’.ConclusionsSeveral differences were found when implementing healthy food retail in grocery compared to health promotion settings. The START-G map offers preliminary guidance for identifying and addressing commercial interests in grocery settings that currently promote less healthy foods and beverages, including by starting to address business outcomes and supplier relationships.

Valorisation of prawn/shrimp shell waste through the production of biologically active components for functional food purposes.

The aim of the work was to develop a technology for using waste from prawn and shrimp processing as a source of active ingredients that could be used in the promotion of healthy foods. From fresh and freeze-dried prawn and shrimp shells, protein hydrolysates (carotenoproteins) were obtained using two different enzymes, Flavourzyme and Protamex. The obtained hydrolysates were characterised in terms of protein content, degree of hydrolysis, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The hydrolysate with the best antioxidant properties (FRAP value of 2933.33 μmol L-1 TE; ORAC value of 115.58 μmol L-1 TE) was selected and tested for its possible use as a component of functional foods. Molecular weight distribution, amino acid profile and free amino acids, the solubility of the hydrolysate in different pH ranges as well as foaming ability were determined. It was found that this hydrolysate was characterised by an amino acid profile with high nutritional value, flavour enhancement properties and excellent solubility in a wide pH range (from 97.06% to 100%). Afterward, the possibility of using carotenoproteins from prawn waste as a component of an emulsion with furcellaran and a lipid preparation of astaxanthin, taken from post-hydrolysate production waste, was investigated. The obtained complexes were stable as proved by the measurement of zeta potential (ζ = -23.87 and -22.32 to -27.79 mV). It is possible to produce stable complexes of the hydrolysate with furcellaran and to emulsify a lipid preparation of astaxanthin, obtained from waste following production of the hydrolysate, in them. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fiber Enrichment of 3D Printed Apricot Gel Snacks with Orange By-Products.

Concern about food waste has become a major global concern. The waste generated by the agri-food industry poses an environmental challenge. However, the development of 3D printing technology offers an opportunity to address this problem. By incorporating food waste into inks, it can create personalized food tailored to individual needs. The aim of this study is the valorization of orange by-products (OBP) in 3D printed gels to obtain a final product in the form of a fiber-enriched snack. Gelatin gels were printed with different concentrations of apricot pulp (30, 50, and 70%) and OBP was added. These gels were subjected to a freeze-drying process. The rheology of the gels before and after printing, the printing precision, and the post-treatment of the freeze-dried product, including color, shear force, and the presence of bioactive compounds, were evaluated. The addition of OBP resulted in an increase in the elasticity (997-1242u) of the samples and improved the printability of them. However, an increase in the hardness (173-184u) was observed in the freeze-dried samples. The use of OBP not only improves the printability of the gels but also enables obtaining fiber-enriched snacks, which could contribute to the reduction in food waste and the promotion of healthy and sustainable food.

Navigating Through Nutrition Labeling Effects: A Second-Order Meta-Analysis

Nutrition labeling interventions are designed to provide consumers with easily interpretable nutritional information at the point of purchase. Despite the widespread implementation of these interventions and numerous research studies, there is little consensus as to their effect on consumer behavior. To address this issue, a novel methodology of second-order meta-analysis was utilized to provide a comprehensive synthesis of prior research on nutrition labeling effects. The difference in effects across published first-order meta-analyses was investigated based on whether the aim of the intervention was to prevent the consumption of unhealthy food or promote the consumption of healthy food (prevention vs. promotion focus). The extent to which the aim of the intervention impacts other intervention and study characteristics in study outcomes was additionally examined. Analysis of 93 first-order meta-analysis effect sizes highlighted differences according to whether the aim of the intervention was to prevent the consumption of unhealthy food or promote the consumption of healthy food. Differences were identified in the size of nutrition label effects for various label types, label location, and study and sample characteristics. In addition to important public policy implications, this research contributes to the ongoing discussion on the merits and limitations of meta-analysis methodology.

Australians support for policy initiatives addressing unhealthy diet: a population-based study.

To inform public health policy implementation in Australia, our study investigated the level of public support for six policy initiatives addressing unhealthy diet. The policy initiatives included taxing soft drinks and energy drinks, taxing less healthy food and beverage purchases, zoning to restrict the supply of junk foods near schools, prohibiting advertising and promotion of less healthy food and beverages to children under the age of 16 and restricting sugar-sweetened beverages from vending machines in schools, and public places. Data from a cross-sectional population-based study for 4040 Australians aged 15+ years, were analysed. A high overall support across all policy initiatives was observed. Nearly three-quarter of public support was observed for policy initiatives targeting children (zoning to restrict the supply of junk food near schools, prohibiting advertising and promotion of less healthy food and beverages to children under the age of 16 and restricting sugars-sweetened beverages from vending machines in schools), and half of Australians supported policy initiatives of taxing soft drinks and energy drinks and taxing less healthy food and beverage purchases. Australian women and those with tertiary level of education were more likely to support public health initiatives targeting children and all policy initiatives respectively. Interestingly, young adults expressed low level of support for all policy initiatives. The study demonstrated considerable public support for policy initiatives focussed on protecting children from unhealthy diet in Australia. Framing, designing and implementing policies targeting children is potentially a good starting point for policymakers to create a health promoting food environment.

Beyond standardized healthy food promotion interventions: understanding culinary practices as care among South Asian women in Hong Kong

Beyond standardized healthy food promotion interventions: understanding culinary practices as care among South Asian women in Hong Kong

Marketing Sustainability Analysis of Stores Participating in a Healthier Retail Food Program

ObjectivesTo examine how food retailers completing Shop Healthy NYC, a healthy food retail program, (1) changed availability, placement, and promotion of healthier food immediately after participation and (2) sustained changes 1-year postintervention. MethodsFrom 2014 to 2017, stores in 2 high-poverty New York City neighborhoods participated in a low-intensity intervention focused on in-store advertising or a high-intensity intervention to meet 7 criteria related to availability, placement, and promotion of healthy items. Stores were assessed preintervention (Pre), 1-month postintervention (Post 1), and 12–16 months postintervention (Post 2). Analyses were restricted to stores that completed the intervention and were assessed at all time points (n = 64). Changes were compared across time points. ResultsAcross stores participating in the low-intensity intervention, the ratio of unhealthy-to-healthy ads decreased from Pre to Post 1, and by Post 2 remained improved over baseline. Among stores participating in the high-intensity intervention, the median number of healthy criteria met increased from 3.5 to 6 from Pre to Post 1 and decreased to 5 at Post 2. ConclusionsImprovements in the marketing and availability, placement, and promotion of healthy products are feasible but may require reinforcement and additional support over time.

Promoção da alimentação adequada e saudável na educação infantil: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract Objectives: to identify and describe the characteristics of studies that address the promotion of adequate and healthy food in early childhood education units and their repercussions on the school community. Methods: the search and selection were performed according to the PRISMA recommendations in the Medline databases via OVID, EMBASE and LILACS. Data extraction took placeusing a table developed by the authors. The evaluation of the quality of the evidence of the studies was carried out through the risk of bias using an adapted scale. Result: twelve articles that met the eligibility criteria were selected. All studies were applied in public or private educational institutions with a median of 236 participants. In the analysis of food and nutrition education activities, the most adopted with preschoolers were playful; with the parents it was the meetings and counseling; and with the professionals it was the training. The methodological qualification of the studies was considered low, which may be related to their limitations included in this review, mainly due to the types of designs adopted, the time and lack of continuity of interventions and sample size. Conclusion: food and nutrition education activities seem to be a promising strategy in knowledge, adoption of healthy eating practices and transmission of values in the school community.

Avaliação do Programa de Promoção da Alimentação Adequada e Saudável na Atenção Primária: pesquisa de métodos mistos

Abstract This article aims to analyze the implementation of an Adequate and Healthy Food Promotion Program in Primary Health Care in the municipalities of Minas Gerais. Mixed Methods Research with Data Concomitant Embedded Strategy. Evaluative research from the perspective of the implementation analysis was employed in the quantitative approach. An exploratory-descriptive study was conducted using content analysis in the qualitative approach. Qualitative and quantitative data were incorporated for analysis from their imbrication. The Program Implementation Level (IL) was 92.5%, representing an adequate implementation. The methodology of the actions proposed in the program and the implementation of Continuing Education were convergent strengths that emerged from data imbrication. The need for more human resources for planning and implementing the program and the lack of a kitchen for cooking workshops were identified as challenges. The Program’s implementation was adequate and can be extended to other Brazilian municipalities to help professionals structure interventions to promote adequate and healthy food in the Primary Care work routine.

Evaluating the Adequate and Healthy Food Promotion Program in Primary Care: a mixed methods research.

This article aims to analyze the implementation of an Adequate and Healthy Food Promotion Program in Primary Health Care in the municipalities of Minas Gerais. Mixed Methods Research with Data Concomitant Embedded Strategy. Evaluative research from the perspective of the implementation analysis was employed in the quantitative approach. An exploratory-descriptive study was conducted using content analysis in the qualitative approach. Qualitative and quantitative data were incorporated for analysis from their imbrication. The Program Implementation Level (IL) was 92.5%, representing an adequate implementation. The methodology of the actions proposed in the program and the implementation of Continuing Education were convergent strengths that emerged from data imbrication. The need for more human resources for planning and implementing the program and the lack of a kitchen for cooking workshops were identified as challenges. The Program's implementation was adequate and can be extended to other Brazilian municipalities to help professionals structure interventions to promote adequate and healthy food in the Primary Care work routine.

Environmental cues for healthy food marketing: The importance of in-store research into three conversions.

Since retailers control the space where consumers tend to make the vast majority of their food purchase decisions, they can take measures to promote healthy living. Increasing relative sales of healthy food can contribute to the ongoing battle against preventable lifestyle diseases. We show how retailers can use impression management and environmental cues in their stores to influence consumers' sales responses to healthy food. This paper advocates in-store research in this realm and introduces three consumer behavior levels - reaching, stopping/holding, and closing the sale - as micro-conversions when retailers use impression management on their consumers. We showcase impression management at each conversion level by testing the effects of placing healthy and unhealthy food items on a floor display in the store area with the most traffic, with or without background music and an advertisement. The results demonstrate that a healthy food product can outperform the sales of popular unhealthy foods. The floor display, for example, increased the sales of the targeted "healthy product" by 570% on average during the intervention periods, compared with the baseline. We discuss the importance of in-store research into three conversions to enable further development of impression management and the use of environmental cues for healthy food promotion.

The role of reinforcement learning and value-based decision-making frameworks in understanding food choice and eating behaviors.

The obesogenic food environment includes easy access to highly-palatable, energy-dense, "ultra-processed" foods that are heavily marketed to consumers; therefore, it is critical to understand the neurocognitive processes the underlie overeating in response to environmental food-cues (e.g., food images, food branding/advertisements). Eating habits are learned through reinforcement, which is the process through which environmental food cues become valued and influence behavior. This process is supported by multiple behavioral control systems (e.g., Pavlovian, Habitual, Goal-Directed). Therefore, using neurocognitive frameworks for reinforcement learning and value-based decision-making can improve our understanding of food-choice and eating behaviors. Specifically, the role of reinforcement learning in eating behaviors was considered using the frameworks of (1) Sign-versus Goal-Tracking Phenotypes; (2) Model-Free versus Model-Based; and (3) the Utility or Value-Based Model. The sign-and goal-tracking phenotypes may contribute a mechanistic insight on the role of food-cue incentive salience in two prevailing models of overconsumption-the Extended Behavioral Susceptibility Theory and the Reactivity to Embedded Food Cues in Advertising Model. Similarly, the model-free versus model-based framework may contribute insight to the Extended Behavioral Susceptibility Theory and the Healthy Food Promotion Model. Finally, the value-based model provides a framework for understanding how all three learning systems are integrated to influence food choice. Together, these frameworks can provide mechanistic insight to existing models of food choice and overconsumption and may contribute to the development of future prevention and treatment efforts.

Community priorities for obesity prevention among low-income adults in Kuala Lumpur: a discrete choice experiment.

Non-communicable diseases and associated risk factors, such as obesity, are prevalent and increasing in Malaysia. To address this burden and the heightened vulnerability of low-income communities to these risk factors, the Better Health Programme Malaysia conducted a partial-profile discrete choice experiment (DCE) to inform the design of a community-based obesity-prevention programme. The DCE survey was conducted with community members (n = 1453) from three publicly supported low-cost, high-rise flat complexes in urban Kuala Lumpur. In the survey, community members were asked to choose between different sets of potential evidence-based interventions for obesity prevention. Their responses to these choice tasks were analysed to quantify preferences for these different health interventions using a random utility maximization model. Based on these results, we determined participants' relative prioritization of the different options. The most preferred interventions were those that reduced the price of fruit and vegetables; altered cooking practices at restaurants and food vendors to reduce salt, sugar and oil; and offered reward incentives for completing online educational activities. Community members did not prioritize several evidence-based interventions, including changes to product placement or product labelling, suggesting that these effective approaches may be less familiar or simply not preferred by respondents. The DCE enabled the clear articulation of these community priorities for evidence-based interventions that focus on the supply and promotion of affordable healthy foods within the local food environment, as well as community demand for healthier food options.

The community food environment moderates the relationship between active commuting to school and child weight status

ObjectivesChildren who walk or bike to school engage in higher levels of physical activity compared to non-active commuters. However, despite the established benefits of increased physical activity, the observed association between active commuting to school (ACS) and child body mass index has been mixed, possibly due to obesogenic food environments to which some children may be exposed along the route between home and school. Our aim was to examine whether the food environment surrounding children's homes moderated the association between ACS and child body mass index z-scores (zBMI). MethodsWe conducted multivariable regression analyses utilizing cross-sectional data from a household survey distributed in 2014 within four low-income cities in New Jersey (n = 627). We used geocoded addresses for the child's home and for food outlets (i.e., limited-service [fast food] restaurants, convenience stores, small grocery stores, and supermarkets) to characterize the food environment within 0.25 miles of the child's home. ResultsAmong active commuters, a larger number of convenience stores and fast-food restaurants and the presence of at least one small grocery store near home were associated with higher zBMI; there was no such association among children who were not active commuters to school. Correspondingly, ACS was associated with lower zBMI among active commuters, but only within less unhealthy food environments. ConclusionsFindings suggest that unhealthy food environments have the potential to impede the beneficial association between ACS and child weight. Policy and intervention efforts to support ACS should also encourage the availability and promotion of healthy foods in food outlets frequented by children.

Utilization of Social Media as a Means of Healthy Food Promotion by Housewives in Dumai City

The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of social media in promoting healthy food by Hanadona Catering in Dumai City. This study uses a constructivist paradigm with a descriptive qualitative approach. The research subject only involved the owner of Hanadona Catering, namely Mrs. Aldona Wulandari as the main informant. Data collection techniques are through in-depth interviews conducted directly (via the Zoom application) or indirectly (via WhatsApp chat) and non-participant observation. The results of this study indicate that Hanadona Catering uses social media WhatsApp Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook to promote its culinary products. Promotional activities are usually carried out alone, involving the community and using the services of celebgrams and influencers from the local area. The massive promotions carried out have made the existence of Hanadona Catering for the last three years quite well known to the people of Dumai city and economically it brings benefits to the owner and the surrounding community, although on the other hand there are obstacles in terms of the availability of human resources to manage social media if it is overloaded. orders.

Local government policies on healthy food promotion and obesity prevention: results from a national Australian survey

ObjectiveLocal governments (LGs) often own or manage sport and recreation facilities and can promote health in these settings by implementing healthy food policies. The primary aim of this study was to assess the policies, attitudes and practices of Australian LGs relating to obesity prevention and the provision of healthy food in this setting. MethodsIn July 2020, all 539 Australian LGs were invited to complete a survey. We assessed LG priorities to obesity prevention, promoting healthy eating and public health as well as the presence of healthy food policies in sporting facilities. Results203 (38%) LGs completed the survey. Improving public health was a high priority, while obesity prevention and promoting healthy eating were a medium priority. 22% of LGs reported that the priority given to promoting healthy food had increased over the previous year and stayed the same at 65%. Ten per cent of LGs had a healthy food and drink policy in sporting facilities, with 32% reporting having made changes without a policy. LGs located in major cities, with larger populations and with more facilities reported having made more healthy changes at their facilities. ConclusionPromoting health is a priority for LGs across Australia, but very few have policies relating to the food environments in their sporting facilities. Implications for public healthOngoing monitoring is important to assess changes over time and identify LGs where greater support is required.