barriers and enablers to healthy eating

Question 1

social factors

Answer 1

family
friends
social media
ses

Question 2

cultural factors

Answer 2

religion
ethnicity
gender

Question 3

political factors

Answer 3

food policies and laws
food labelling
health promotion

Question 4

social factors deifne

Answer 4

aspects of society and the social environment that impact on health and wellbeing

Question 5

cultural factors define

Answer 5

beliefs, moral values, traditions, language and rules of behaviour held in common by a community group of people

Question 6

political factors define

Answer 6

decisions and actions taken by government and non-government agencies on issues relating to healthcare, health policies and health funding

Question 7

family: enabler

Answer 7

positive role modelling:
- encouraging healthy eating
- buying healthy foods for the family
- learn the importance of nutrition form healthy meals
- learn how to cook quick easy and nutritious meals

Question 8

family: barrier

Answer 8

poor role modelling:
- young people copy when family members consistently eat energy dense foods with high sugar contents
- if family members make unhealthy choices when eating, the young person is likely to do so aswell
- when breakfast is not part of the daily routine, the young person will go without, leading to snacking during the day

Question 9

peer group: enabler

Answer 9

• if the young person’s friends make healthy choices around them, they are likely to copy this behaviour

Question 10

peer group: barrier

Answer 10

• may encourage the ideal body type
• pressure others to skip meals or cut out certain foods which can lead to distorted eating patterns and unhealthy behaviours
• eating fast food if this is the norm for their group
• if your friends eat less, you’re more likely to eat less and continue this when you’re alone
• peer pressure!!

Question 11

income: enabler

Answer 11

• those with higher incomes have increased choice of food
• more likely to consume nutritious food products which may be more expensive
• those with higher incomes can afford a wide selection of fruits and vegetables, regardless of season and price
• organic foods are more expensive and can be more easily accessed by those earning higher incomes.

Question 12

income: barrier

Answer 12

• energy-dense processed foods are generally cheaper than nutrient-dense foods
• the choice of lower income earners
• lower ses areas generally have easier access to fast food and takeaway than fresh produce compared to higher ses areas
• all these could mean people of lower incomes choose to consume fast foods and takeaway.

Question 13

education: enabler

Answer 13

• health literacy associated with healthy food behaviours
• higher levels of education are more likely to choose healthier lifestyles including healthier food choices
• education can promote awareness of healthy behaviours such as the importance of a balanced diets
• education can increase the likelihood of adopting healthy behaviours and having a balanced diet

Question 14

education: barrier

Answer 14

• young people may not understand the importance of consuming a balanced diet which can result in over/under-consumption of particular nutrients

Question 15

occupation: barrier

Answer 15

• may not have enough time outside of work for meal planning, food shopping, cooking
• shift work and long hours can influence the types of foods consumed
• when work is stressful, people are more likely to turn to instant meals which have higher levels of sodium and fats
• kitchen facilities and food availabilities also impact young peoples eating habits
• working in fast food or a place where there is limited access to nutritious meals means a young person may choose an unhealthy option during meal breaks at work

Question 16

occupation: enabler

Answer 16

• some occupations may encourage you to eat healthier
• working in the medical field, you may be exposed to the affects of unhealthy eating patterns, which can encourage you to make healthier choices
• working in a place where there is easy access to healthy, nutritious meals during break times may encourage a young person to make the healthier choice

Question 17

social media: barrier

Answer 17

• social media is full of misinformation regarding nutrition
• not fact-checked
• young people need to know when they are being presented with misinformation
• young people are exposed to advertisements about fast foods and energy dense foods
• increase in nutrition bloggers can cause confusion

Question 18

social media: enabler

Answer 18

• can also help teach young people how to cook easy nutritious meals for yourself
• some health professionals are online trying to spread real and helpful information

Question 19

religion: barrier

Answer 19

• many religious groups hold particular regulations regarding consumption of food
• people following the hindu religion tend not to eat beef because cows are considered sacred
• in Islam and judaism, the eating of pork is prohibited and all meat must be halal or kosher to ensure the process and food preparation is in line with their religious laws
• Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan
• all of these can affect the nutrients a person is eating each day

Question 20

ethnicity: enabler

Answer 20

• different ethnic groups select different foods, because this is the way they have been brought up
• African and afro-caribbean groups often consume foods containing various meats, rice and wheat
• eastern groups are more likely to consume large amounts of herbs and spices and vegetables
• australia’s multicultural society can be seen within the variety of foods consumed in the school yard.

Question 21

gender: barrier

Answer 21

• research shows that australian men eat fewer fruit and vegetables than women
• men also eat a smaller variety of vegetables than women
• men consume fewer high-fibre foods, low-fat foods and more soft drinks than women
• men face specific barriers to healthy eating such as:
  > time
  > cost
  > cooking skills
  > understanding of recommended serving sizes
• food marketing sometimes links masculinity to the consumption of animal products
• females are regarded as having a greater understanding of the importantance of healthy eating behaviours
• could be associated with the cultural norm of the ideal female body shape (thin)
• females are more health concious

Question 22

food policies/laws: barrier

Answer 22

• factors such as the cost of food can have potential influences on food selection
• food laws and trade arrangements also affect the availability of food
• an example of a current food policy is the implementation of health-related food taxes

Question 23

food labelling: enabler

Answer 23

• determines what a consumer knows about the product they are purchasing
• often influences the choices of food that are available and impacts on individual diets
• all packaged food labels must include:
  
  • a nutrition panel
  • use by or best before date
  • country of origin
  • manufacturing details
• can be confusing for young people if they are unfamiliar with reading and comprehending the information
• food labels can be useful when comparing similar products

Question 24

health promotion: enabler

Answer 24

• enable improvements in youth diets
• the Australian dietary guidelines and the Australian guide to healthy eating are publications recommended to be used in nutrition education within schools
• health promotion can be effective in achieving healthy living and eating goals