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Non-communicable diseases (NCD) have increased dramatically in developed and developing countries. Unhealthy diet is one of the major factors contributing to NCD development. Recent evidence has identified deterioration in aspects of dietary quality across many world regions, including low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Most burdens of disease attributable to poor diet can be prevented or delayed as they occur prematurely. Therefore, it is important to identify and target unhealthy dietary behaviours in order to have the greatest impact. National dietary-related programmes have traditionally focused on micronutrient deficiency and food security and failed to acknowledge unhealthy dietary intakes as a risk factor that contributes to the development of NCD. Inadequate intakes of healthy foods and nutrients and excess intakes of unhealthy ones are commonly observed across the world, and efforts to reduce the double burden of micronutrient deficiency and unhealthy diets should be a particular focus for LMIC. Interventions and policies targeting whole populations are likely to be the most effective and sustainable, and should be prioritized. Population-based approaches such as health information and communication campaigns, fiscal measures such as taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, direct restrictions and mandates, reformulation and improving the nutrient profile of food products, and standards regulating marketing to children can have significant and large impacts to improve diets and reduce the incidence of NCD. There is a need for more countries to implement population-based effective approaches to improve current diets.

This article describes results of a systematic review of social marketing physical activity interventions targeting adults 60 years and over. Thirty-four articles covering seven social marketing interventions were identified following systematic literature review procedures. None of the identified interventions gave evidence that they addressed all six social marketing benchmark criteria; three interventions addressed five social marketing benchmark criteria and a further three interventions addressed four social marketing benchmark criteria. Four interventions reported positive behavior change, and no negative behavioral changes were reported among all seven social marketing interventions. Previous research shows that social marketing interventions employing all six benchmark criteria offer greater potential to change behaviors, yet none of the interventions in this review used all of the benchmark criteria. Audience segmentation and exchange were used by only three interventions.

HETs report that food literacy is very important for adolescents to learn. The focus is more on microaspects in comparison to macroaspects of food literacy. Schools' food environments are ideally positioned to shape dietary intake of adolescents but their potential is not being realized.

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