Moving towards healthy food environments requires systemic approaches that respond to their multidimensional nature
Editorial
The health of future generations is profoundly influenced by the environments in which they live, learn, and grow. A growing body of research emphasizes the critical role of food environments — both physical and digital — in determining children’s and adolescents’ dietary behaviors and long-term health outcomes (Story et al., 2008 ; Swinburn et al., 2019). Recent studies highlight a hugely complex landscape. Factors such as the pervasive commercial marketing of unhealthy products and their associated brands and systemic but unequal barriers to accessing healthy options are increasingly recognized as powerful drivers of food choices and health disparities.
This month, the Global Fruit & Veg Newsletter shares some excellent new literature that calls for comprehensive and multifaceted approaches to fostering environments that promote healthy eating.
For instance, Varela et al. 2024 review the complex food systems that children face, emphasizing the role of policies and social factors in promoting healthier food choices. The study examines the barriers encountered by children and adolescents in accessing healthy food despite the presence of numerous public health initiatives. The authors argue that improving food systems requires addressing not only physical access but also the social and psychological factors that influence food choices. They suggest that solutions must extend beyond traditional food access to also address educational and community-based interventions.
The digital landscape presents another layer of complexity. The review of Lafontaine et al., 2024 focuses on the influence of social media platforms on children and adolescents’ food choices. This issue represents a growing concern as this population, particularly adolescents, become increasingly exposed to targeted food marketing on digital platforms and whose food preferences are often shaped by influencers and digital marketing strategies. According to the work, most children and adolescents are frequently exposed to food advertisements on social media and most advertised food is ultra-processed. The authors highlight the need for robust actions including innovative regulations to counter unhealthy food marketing.
Finally, the study of Wahnschafft et al., 2024 examines public support and its drivers for comprehensive policy packages aimed at improving food environments in 1200 eligible German voters. Findings reveal strong public support for policy packages aimed at improving food environments, especially those with fiscal incentives and school-based measures. Key drivers of support included beliefs in the importance of diet-related issues and the need for government intervention. This study highlights the importance of aligning policy designs with public preferences to ensure broad support.
Together, these studies illuminate the multifaceted nature of food environments. They demonstrate that improving dietary habits requires a systemic approach that integrates physical, digital, and policy-driven solutions.
Emma Boyland is a Professor of Food Marketing and Child Health in the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, where she is Deputy Executive Dean for the Institute of Population Health. Emma is an experimental psychologist whose studies explore unhealthy food marketing and the impact this has on eating and eating-related behaviours, particularly in children. She works extensively with the World Health Organization in relation to child health and has informed policies in the UK and internationally to restrict food marketing to children. She receives research funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).