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A perspective on the strategic approach to the complexity and challenges of behaviour change in relation to dietary health
Author(s) -
Bestwick C. S.,
Douglas F. C. G.,
Allan J. L,
Macdiarmid J. I.,
Ludbrook A.,
Carlisle S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
nutrition bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1467-3010
pISSN - 1471-9827
DOI - 10.1111/nbu.12007
Subject(s) - multidisciplinary approach , context (archaeology) , perspective (graphical) , theme (computing) , psychological intervention , psychology , population , public relations , public economics , medicine , sociology , political science , environmental health , geography , social science , economics , archaeology , psychiatry , artificial intelligence , computer science , operating system
Summary Understanding the drivers for improving S cotland's dietary health is one of the key objectives within the ‘ F ood, L and and P eople’ component of the S cottish G overnment's S trategic R esearch P rogramme ( SRP ). Food producer, processor, retailer and consumer behaviour relative to diet and health are investigated through the programme's ‘ H ealthy S afe D iets’ theme. The research recognizes both the importance of food to S cotland's economy, health and wellbeing, as well as the challenges faced by the burden of obesity and dietary‐related illness. The H ealthy S afe D iets theme's analysis of diet and behaviour has a focus on the interplay of the social, biological, behavioural and environmental determinants of nutritional health and aims to develop and test prototype policy interventions relevant to improving the health of S cotland's population. Here, we argue the necessity for concerted and coordinated multidisciplinary approaches to understand and influence dietary behaviour within the changing technological, economic, social and cultural context of individuals within society. The SRP 's structure encourages and is developing such interdisciplinary links. Inherent to this is the combining of qualitative and quantitative approaches; using the insights gained from in depth study of small numbers of people, both to provide a better understanding of the results of quantitative analysis and to inform new research questions. Placed in context with the SRP 's wider research objectives (such as on physical activity, the role of ‘urban green space’, enhancing the health‐beneficial properties of foods and the environmental sustainability of food production and supply), SRP interconnection offers significant opportunity to develop synergies and reconcile conflicts between research areas to create cohesive policy advice and enhance health and wellbeing outcomes.