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Cited by 484Nutrition, Health and Food BehaviorObesity, Physical Activity, DietSchool Health and Nursing Education

Young people and healthy eating: a systematic review of research on barriers and facilitators

Shepherd, J·2005·Health Education Research
DOI 10.1093/her/cyh060
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Abstract

A systematic review was conducted to examine the barriers to, and facilitators of, healthy eating among young people (11-16 years). The review focused on the wider determinants of health, examining community- and society-level interventions. Seven outcome evaluations and eight studies of young people's views were included. The effectiveness of the interventions was mixed, with improvements in knowledge and increases in healthy eating but differences according to gender. Barriers to healthy eating included poor school meal provision and ease of access to, relative cheapness of and personal taste preferences for fast food. Facilitators included support from family, wider availability of healthy foods, desire to look after one's appearance and will-power. Friends and teachers were generally not a common source of information. Some of the barriers and facilitators identified by young people had been addressed by soundly evaluated effective interventions, but significant gaps were identified where no evaluated interventions appear to have been published (e.g. better labelling of food products), or where there were no methodologically sound evaluations. Rigorous evaluation is required particularly to assess the effectiveness of increasing the availability of affordable healthy food in the public and private spaces occupied by young people.

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Crossref · 10.1093/her/cyh060

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  • The use to date of interpretive approaches to synthesis has been confined to the synthesis of qualitative research only.

    “In general, the use to date of interpretive approaches to synthesis has been confined to the synthesis of qualitative research only [6-8].”

    From Conducting a critical interpretive synthesis of the literature on access to healthcare by vulnerable groups (2006) · cites this paper as [6]

  • Methods for including qualitative and quantitative evidence in systematic reviews developed by the EPPI Centre have involved refinements and extensions of conventional systematic review methodology and have limited their application of interpretive techniques to synthesis of qualitative evidence.

    “Methods for including qualitative and quantitative evidence in systematic reviews developed by the EPPI Centre at the Institute of Education, London, have involved refinements and extensions of conventional systematic review methodology [6-8], and have limited their application of interpretive techniques to synthesis of qualitative evidence.”

    From Conducting a critical interpretive synthesis of the literature on access to healthcare by vulnerable groups (2006) · cites this paper as [6]

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Authors
Shepherd, J.
Affiliations
University of London (GB)
Corresponding author
Shepherd, J
ORCID
Shepherd, J
Venue
Health Education Research
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2005-08-18
Volume
21
Issue
2
Pages
239-257
ISSN
  • 0268-1153 (ISSN-L)
  • 1465-3648
DOI
10.1093/her/cyh060
OpenAlex
W2107295716
Cited by
484
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 37 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 27
FWCI
1.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Health Education Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
Keywords
healthy eating, youth, barriers and facilitators, school meal provision, fast food, family support, food availability, food labeling, gender differences, community-level interventions, adolescent nutrition, intervention effectiveness
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Diet, Feeding Behavior, Humans, Motivation, Social Control, Informal

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