The potential of food environment policies to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in diets and to improve healthy diets among lower socioeconomic groups: an umbrella review

Løvhaug, Anne Lene; Granheim, Sabrina Ionata; Djojosoeparto, Sanne K.; Harrington, Janas M.; Kamphuis, Carlijn B. M.; Poelman, Maartje P.; Roos, Gun; Sawyer, Alexia; Stronks, Karien; Torheim, Liv Elin; Twohig, Cliona; Vandevijvere, Stefanie; Lenthe, Frank J. van; Terragni, Laura

doi:10.1186/s12889-022-12827-4

Cited by 25 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 63 publications

(121 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Differently than in other Food-EPI studies, in the PEN Food-EPI’s experts were also asked to prioritize the policy actions on equity. Experts in our study indicated that price actions have the greatest potential to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in diet, which was also shown by an umbrella and systematic review [ 63 , 64 ]. However, experts also indicated that food composition and marketing policies could be pro-equity, for which less empirical evidence was found [ 63 , 64 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

How can National Government Policies Improve Food Environments in the Netherlands?

Djojosoeparto¹,

Kamphuis

Vandevijvere

et al. 2022

Int J Public Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: Government policies are essential to create food environments that support healthy diets. The aims of this study were 1) to benchmark the implementation of Dutch government policies influencing food environments, and 2) to identify and prioritize actions to improve food environments in the Netherlands.Methods: The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) was applied. The Food-EPI includes 46 indicators of food environment policy and infrastructure support. Independent experts (n = 28) rated the extent of implementation on these indicators against international best practices, and formulated and prioritized policy and infrastructure support actions to improve food environments.Results: Most policy indicators were rated as having a low (50%) or very low (41%) level of implementation. Most infrastructure support indicators were rated as having a fair (42%) or medium (42%) level of implementation. 18 policy and 11 infrastructure support actions were recommended by experts to improve food environments in the Netherlands.Conclusion: There is large potential for the Dutch national government to strengthen its policy action and infrastructure support in order to improve the healthiness of food environments in the Netherlands.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

How can National Government Policies Improve Food Environments in the Netherlands?

Djojosoeparto¹,

Kamphuis

Vandevijvere

et al. 2022

Int J Public Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Policymakers could consider instituting an FE-linked policy for improving the community diet. The policy must address other FE-related issues such as nutritional composition, labelling, promotion, pricing, provision, retail, and investment [ 76 ]. In New Zealand, FE policy implementation led to excellent recommendations, such as the implementation of a national action plan for preventing non-communicable diseases, establishing priorities for reducing childhood and adolescent obesity, doubling funding for population nutrition promotion, and reducing the marketing of unhealthy foods [ 76 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The policy must address other FE-related issues such as nutritional composition, labelling, promotion, pricing, provision, retail, and investment [ 76 ]. In New Zealand, FE policy implementation led to excellent recommendations, such as the implementation of a national action plan for preventing non-communicable diseases, establishing priorities for reducing childhood and adolescent obesity, doubling funding for population nutrition promotion, and reducing the marketing of unhealthy foods [ 76 ]. In India, various nutrition interventions were formulated to enhance the FE through systematic planning and embracing differences in the problem for decoding and dividing to simplify resolutions to be addressed by policymakers and nutritionists in the future [ 77 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Link between Food Environment and Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Food and diet are critical risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC). Food environments (FEs) can contribute to disease risk, including CRC. This review investigated the link between FEs and CRC incidence and mortality risk. The systematic search of studies utilised three primary journal databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Retrieved citations were screened and the data were extracted from articles related to the FE-exposed populations who were at risk for CRC and death. We evaluated ecological studies and cohort studies with quality assessment and the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Form for Cohort Studies, respectively. A descriptive synthesis of the included studies was performed. Out of 89 articles identified, eight were eligible for the final review. The included studies comprised six ecological studies and two cohort studies published from 2013 to 2021. Six articles were from the US, one was from Africa, and one was from Switzerland. All eight studies were of good quality. The significant finding was that CRC incidence was associated with the availability of specific foods such as red meat, meat, animal fats, energy from animal sources, and an unhealthy FE. Increased CRC mortality was linked with the availability of animal fat, red meat, alcoholic beverages, and calorie food availability, residence in food deserts, and lower FE index. There were a variety of associations between CRC and the FE. The availability of specific foods, unhealthy FE, and food desserts impact CRC incidence and mortality. Creating a healthy FE in the future will require focus and thorough planning.

show abstract

“…It is known that some groups are more prone to develop overweight or obesity. Therefore, it is important implement policies that target this socio-demographic gradient in cases [62]. Without taking action, the rise in cases will likely follow the projected trajectory, whereby the rates of disease burden and associated healthcare cost of non-communicable diseases will also rise [63,64].…”

Section: Policy Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Past, present, and future trends of overweight and obesity in Belgium using Bayesian age-period-cohort models

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Overweight and obesity are one of the most significant risk factors of the twenty-first century related to an increased risk in the occurrence of non-communicable diseases and associated increased healthcare costs. To estimate the future impact of overweight, the current study aimed to project the prevalence of overweight and obesity to the year 2030 in Belgium using a Bayesian age-period-cohort (APC) model, supporting policy planning. Methods Height and weight of 58,369 adults aged 18+ years, collected in six consecutive cross-sectional health interview surveys between 1997 and 2018, were evaluated. Criteria used for overweight and obesity were defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25, and BMI ≥ 30. Past trends and projections were estimated with a Bayesian hierarchical APC model. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased between 1997 and 2018 in both men and women, whereby the highest prevalence was observed in the middle-aged group. It is likely that a further increase in the prevalence of obesity will be seen by 2030 with a probability of 84.1% for an increase in cases among men and 56.0% for an increase in cases among women. For overweight, it is likely to see an increase in cases in women (57.4%), while a steady state in cases among men is likely. A prevalence of 52.3% [21.2%; 83.2%] for overweight, and 27.6% [9.9%; 57.4%] for obesity will likely be achieved in 2030 among men. Among women, a prevalence of 49,1% [7,3%; 90,9%] for overweight, and 17,2% [2,5%; 61,8%] for obesity is most likely. Conclusions Our projections show that the WHO target to halt obesity by 2025 will most likely not be achieved. There is an urgent necessity for policy makers to implement effective prevent policies and other strategies in people who are at risk for developing overweight and/or obesity.

show abstract

The potential of food environment policies to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in diets and to improve healthy diets among lower socioeconomic groups: an umbrella review

Cited by 25 publications

References 63 publications

How can National Government Policies Improve Food Environments in the Netherlands?

How can National Government Policies Improve Food Environments in the Netherlands?

The Link between Food Environment and Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review

Past, present, and future trends of overweight and obesity in Belgium using Bayesian age-period-cohort models

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About