Research project
Health Inequalities in the Food System; Fibre intake in Adolescents
- Start date: 3 July 2023
- End date: 31 December 2024
- Value: £125,000
- Partners and collaborators: University of Sheffield - Institute for Sustainable Food
- Primary investigator: 00042362
- Co-investigators: Dr Neil Boyle and Dr Nick Wilkinson
The case for additional research on food-related health inequalities was outlined in the recent Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology note on ‘Diet-related health inequalities’ (PN-0686) which called for a more systemic approach to health inequalities rather than an approach that focused on individual-level behaviour change. The urgent need for research on ‘healthy eating’ is also acknowledged in the National Food Strategy, both in the Independent Review (NFS 2021) and in the Government response (NFS 2022). Our research is closely aligned with these strategies and with the ‘Transforming UK food systems’ programme focus on evidence-based interventions in policy and practice, working with communities and stakeholders to reduce health inequalities while increasing the sustainability of UK food systems. The proposed research builds on our current work in the H3 project (Healthy soil, Healthy food, Healthy people), adding value through a specific focus on food-related health inequalities at critical points along the life-course, approached via an integrated food systems perspective. Specifically, we will be targeting diet-related health inequalities among children and adolescents, aiming to understand and increase fibre consumption. Focusing on institutions such as will enable us to work with key intermediaries, maximising the potential for research impact.
Impact
Understanding fibre intake in adolescents and developing products to encourage greater fibre intake will enable adolescents to achieve RDIs of this important nutritional component