From healthy food environments to healthy wellbeing environments: Policy insights from a focused ethnography with low-income parents’ in England

Isaacs, Anna; Halligan, Joel; Neve, Kimberley; Hawkes, Corinna

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102862

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Like low-income parents, adolescents may be limited to food outlets which predominantly serve unhealthy foods because these are the outlets recognized as providing a good social experience and providing foods that are recognizable while also fitting with their limited budgets. The findings from this study support previous calls for food environment interventions and policies to be re-designed not only to support nutritionally better food choices but to also support other aspects of human–well-being such as social and emotional needs ( Hawkes et al , 2020 ; Isaacs et al , 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

The interplay between social and food environments on UK adolescents’ food choices: implications for policy

Shaw,

Muir,

Strömmer

et al. 2023

Health Promotion International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Factors from social and food environments can influence the food choices of adolescents in ways not experienced during childhood. Evidence suggests these two environments influence adolescents’ food choices independently, but there is limited knowledge of how the interplay between these environments influence adolescents’ diets. An enhanced understanding of this interplay surrounding adolescent food choice could aid the development of more nuanced interventions and policies. This qualitative study involved 13 online focus groups with adolescents (n = 45) aged 11–18 years, attending secondary school or college in England, UK. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Social experiences which accompanied eating were perceived as more important than the food itself, and fast-food outlets were described as uniquely suited to facilitating these interactions. Young people wanted to spend their money on foods they considered worthwhile, but this did not always relate to the most affordable foods. Adolescents wanted to put little effort into making food decisions and appreciated factors that helped them make quick decisions such as prominent placement and eye-catching promotions on foods they wanted to buy. Chain food outlets were valued as they offered familiar and frequently advertised foods, which minimized the effort needed for food decisions. Adolescents’ sense of autonomy underpinned all themes. Participants described having limited opportunities to make their own food choices and they did not want to waste these buying unappealing ‘healthy’ foods. Interventions and government policies should align with adolescents’ experiences and values relating to food choice to ensure that they are effective with this important age group.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

The interplay between social and food environments on UK adolescents’ food choices: implications for policy

Shaw,

Muir,

Strömmer

et al. 2023

Health Promotion International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For instance, although the policy may reduce exposure to takeaways in the long-term, it will not remove the secondary, and in some cases more important, need for safe and welcoming spaces for socialising. Given the social value of food environments, demonstrated in this study by the young people's use of takeaway and fast food outlets as social spaces, interventions should also consider social and emotional needs (Hawkes et al, 2020;Isaacs et al, 2022).…”

Section: Implications For Policy and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It does help but there’s a limit…”: Young people’s perspectives on policies that restrict hot food takeaways opening near schools

Savory,

Thompson,

Adams

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Local authorities (LAs) in England are increasingly using the planning system to control the proliferation of hot food takeaway outlets (takeaways) near schools as part of a range of policies to promote healthy weight in children. These takeaway management zones (TMZs) include restrictions on planning permission to open new takeaways within a certain distance of a school. In this qualitative study we explore young peoples perspectives of TMZs. Methods: We purposively recruited 46 young people (aged 11-18 years old) attending secondary school across two contrasting London LAs with operating TMZs. We conducted semi-structured, walking group interviews (go-alongs) in January-February 2023 in the local food environment close to participant schools. We analysed data using framework analysis. Results: Participants generally viewed TMZs as reasonable and uncontroversial but were not always aware that TMZs were in operation. Although participants understood that TMZs prevented new outlets from opening, they observed they did not seem to reduce existing provision. This was viewed positively as it did not result in the closure of local takeaways perceived as important components of the social fabric of school life. Participants believed that the potential health impact of TMZs is limited by their exclusive focus on takeaways as other food retail commonly patronised by young people, such as convenience stores, are important sources of unhealthy food. Participants also identified inadequacies in the wider food environment, including the school dining environment and access to food delivery apps. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that although young people find TMZs acceptable and believe they have some positive impact on diet, they did not perceive TMZs as effective as they could be. Participants articulated that the management of takeaways on their own is unlikely to reduce exposure to unhealthy foods. Widening the remit of planning policy to include outlets selling convenience foods may be important for policy optimisation.

show abstract

Food environment

Franco

Díez²

2023

Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

From healthy food environments to healthy wellbeing environments: Policy insights from a focused ethnography with low-income parents’ in England

Cited by 7 publications

References 39 publications

The interplay between social and food environments on UK adolescents’ food choices: implications for policy

The interplay between social and food environments on UK adolescents’ food choices: implications for policy

“It does help but there’s a limit…”: Young people’s perspectives on policies that restrict hot food takeaways opening near schools

Food environment

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About