Whole Systems Approaches - Improving the Food Environment

Accessibility and affordability

One of the greatest barriers to healthier eating is the cost of living crisis which disproportionately affects Scotland’s disadvantaged communities. These disadvantaged communities often are at greater risk of obesity and struggle to access healthier food options due to cost and availability. Many areas in Scotland recognise this issue and have now helped to support food larders and kitchens with the aim of addressing it. These include the Quaint Food Larder run by Ardrossan Whitlees Community Association and funded by Cunninghame Housing Association. The food larder gives residents the opportunity to access food, including fresh produce, at a token price in a shop-like environment.

Many other areas help their populations to access healthier food choices such as in Whitburn, West Lothian. Mayfield and Easthouses Pantry, Midlothian, will offer a free pantry shop to those in receipt of food bank parcels. In Aberdeenshire, their work under food accessibility includes looking at solutions to improve affordable and better access to local produce in communities, including rural areas. In addition, some areas have supported local cafés and community food outlets to offer healthier menus. Midlothian is trialling the use of MenuCal with local food businesses with the support of Environmental Health.

Fast food

Fast food outlets fill most high streets and, unless local powers to consider planning and licensing applications from a public health perspective are strengthened, the potential for interventions is limited. In Aberdeenshire, the Environmental Health department are working with local outlets to reduce sugar and salt content in their ingredients. When they worked with a local business, a sampling intervention identified 12 grams of salt in a takeaway meal. Following advice, the business now measures sugar and salt with a teaspoon to accurately provide small quantities.

The best start in life

Most areas have a focus on children and young people in their activities.

Central to Dundee’s whole systems approach to healthy weight, is the belief that Dundee’s children and young people deserve to have the best start in life. The Tayside Child Healthy Weight Strategy launched in June 2021 included key ambitions which aim to be achieved by improving school settings and health in education.

Aberdeenshire Council have helped a school to implement a grow your own project.

Dundee City Council and NHS Tayside have also worked hard together to improve breastfeeding rates in Dundee. The Home Start Dundee, Breast Buddies Project provides support on all aspects of breastfeeding using peer support groups, one to one home visiting and online support. Further, NHS Tayside was the first Health Board in Scotland to achieve the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Gold Award for Community – Health Visiting Service and Family Nurse Partnership.

Midlothian is prioritising breastfeeding by seeking to increase the number of breastfeeding friendly places and also by working to reduce the drop off rate in breastfeeding specifically in Mayfield and Easthouses.

These and other initiatives which can be undertaken at a local level to improve the food environment will be discussed at the Promoting Diet and Healthy Weight event which features speakers from Aberdeenshire, Borders and Dundee.

Professor Lindsay Jaacks from the University of Edinburgh will also be launching a new publication which describes the most effective interventions at a local level to address diet and healthy weight.

To register for Promoting Diet and Healthy Weight: What Can Whole Systems Approaches Deliver? please visit: https://www.obesityactionscotland.org/news/stareventstar-promoting-healthy-weight-what-can-whole-systems-approaches-deliver/

For further information about the Whole Systems Approach to Diet and Healthy Weight in Scotland, please contact: robin.ireland@obesityactionscotland.org