TY - JOUR
T1 - The complex relationship between diet and health
AU - Bleich, Sara N.
AU - Jones-Smith, Jessica
AU - Wolfson, Julia A.
AU - Zhu, Xiaozhou
AU - Story, Mary
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Project HOPE-The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - The relationship between food and health is complex. Everyone needs food to live, but too little food, too much food, or the wrong type of food has negative consequences for health. To increase understanding of this relationship, we describe trends and patterns in food-related diseases among both adults and children. Using an ecological framework, we then describe why food intake is complex with a discussion of three broad levels-macro (including policy and social-cultural norms), local community, and individual environments-and their relationship to food consumption. Given the strong relationship between an individual's food choice and his or her surrounding environment, we end with examples of policy responses that aim to help people overcome environmental disincentives toward healthy eating. Finding ways to make eating healthfully easier and affordable for all populations is essential to shifting the average American diet toward one that promotes health.
AB - The relationship between food and health is complex. Everyone needs food to live, but too little food, too much food, or the wrong type of food has negative consequences for health. To increase understanding of this relationship, we describe trends and patterns in food-related diseases among both adults and children. Using an ecological framework, we then describe why food intake is complex with a discussion of three broad levels-macro (including policy and social-cultural norms), local community, and individual environments-and their relationship to food consumption. Given the strong relationship between an individual's food choice and his or her surrounding environment, we end with examples of policy responses that aim to help people overcome environmental disincentives toward healthy eating. Finding ways to make eating healthfully easier and affordable for all populations is essential to shifting the average American diet toward one that promotes health.
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U2 - 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0606
DO - 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0606
M3 - Article
C2 - 26526238
AN - SCOPUS:84949207107
VL - 34
SP - 1813
EP - 1820
JO - Health Affairs
JF - Health Affairs
SN - 0278-2715
IS - 11
ER -