Around the world and here at home, people are working on ways to help consumers make healthier choices and on figuring out what sometimes prevents them from doing just that. What follows are summaries of key studies that look at the many facets of this fascinating issue.
You can read the summaries below. Then use the box at right to download the resources you're interested in.
This U.K. report produced by the Soil Association and Organix (a food company that campaigns to raise standards in the quality of food fed to children) provides an important industry perspective. The report reveals a “shocking disconnection” between the aspirations of policies on health eating and the kind of food and drink for sale in hospitals and sports centres across England and Wales. The Soil Association and Organix conclude that “Hospitals and sports centres should be beacons of best practice, where good food is readily available and healthy eating messages are communicated to the public.”
This study done by Strottman International Inc. provides valuable insights into the way kids perceive issues related to healthy eating, sickness and disease and obesity. For example, kids care about making a healthy food choice only “for Mom's sake” and not necessarily for “health's sake” (63% said eating healthy food “will make mom/dad happy”). It also reported which stereotypes prevail: children strongly associate overweight body figures with kids who are picked on, but rank sedentary lifestyle and obesity low in “dangerousness” compared to wearing a seatbelt or smoking.
