Addressing food system determinants of health inequalities in urban environments: learnings from the FoodSEqual and FoodSEqual-Health projects

Diet is just one social determinant of health, with obesity and diet-related illness as leading causes of premature deaths and disability in the UK. People living in deprived areas of the UK are more likely to experience poor health outcomes, linked to many social determinants of health such as diet, housing, employment, education, power and discrimination and psycho-social factors such as isolation, quality of social network and perceived level of control. While socio-economic deprivation is a key risk for health inequalities, protected characteristics, vulnerable groups and geographical factors also indicate populations at risk of experiencing health inequalities. In this 'opinion article' we draw on our experiences in the Food Systems Equality (FoodSEqual) and FoodSEqual-Health research projects to share our methods of engaging residents from a range of population groups in areas of high deprivation in England, who are often under-represented in studies related to diet and health. We consider the contextual factors that shape the lived experience of residents, the contributions they can make when engaged in research and social development, and advocate for their inclusion in developments designed by voluntary sector organizations, local authorities and central government to improve the food systems they access. Finally, we consider the role of local food strategies and policy actions in developing healthy, sustainable and equitable food systems.This article is part of the theme issue 'Transforming terrestrial food systems for human and planetary health'.

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Publication Details

Journal
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
Published
2025-09-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0150
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
5.25
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article

Addressing food system determinants of health inequalities in urban environments: learnings from the FoodSEqual and FoodSEqual-Health projects

Hannah Gardiner, Sajna Miah, Louise Hunt, Lisa Methven et al.
3 citations
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
5.25
article

Addressing food system determinants of health inequalities in urban environments: learnings from the FoodSEqual and FoodSEqual-Health projects

Hannah Gardiner, Sajna Miah, Louise Hunt, Lisa Methven, Gunter Kuhnle, Rachel Sutton, Jo Hart, Shafinaz Hussein, Julie Yip, Clare Pettinger, Shelley E. Taylor, Rachel McCloy, Emma Williams, Katerina Psarikidou, Lisa Howard, Patricia Bennett, Manik Puranik, Martin Chadwick, Carol Wagstaff, Clare Relton, Sally Lloyd‐Evans, Elaine Swan, Rachel A. Smith, Lorna Zischka, Jiang Pan, Michelle Thomas, Paridhi Garg, Jane Bradbeer, Barbara Diouri, Yve Ashton, Lisa Alloune
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Diet is just one social determinant of health, with obesity and diet-related illness as leading causes of premature deaths and disability in the UK. People living in deprived areas of the UK are more likely to experience poor health outcomes, linked to many social determinants of health such as diet, housing, employment, education, power and discrimination and psycho-social factors such as isolation, quality of social network and perceived level of control. While socio-economic deprivation is a key risk for health inequalities, protected characteristics, vulnerable groups and geographical factors also indicate populations at risk of experiencing health inequalities. In this 'opinion article' we draw on our experiences in the Food Systems Equality (FoodSEqual) and FoodSEqual-Health research projects to share our methods of engaging residents from a range of population groups in areas of high deprivation in England, who are often under-represented in studies related to diet and health. We consider the contextual factors that shape the lived experience of residents, the contributions they can make when engaged in research and social development, and advocate for their inclusion in developments designed by voluntary sector organizations, local authorities and central government to improve the food systems they access. Finally, we consider the role of local food strategies and policy actions in developing healthy, sustainable and equitable food systems.This article is part of the theme issue 'Transforming terrestrial food systems for human and planetary health'.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological SciencesVol. 380(1935)
University of Sussex (GB), Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Sussex County Community College (US), Sustainable Food Center (US), Women's and Children's Health Network (AU), Japan Association for Development of Community Medicine (JP), London Women's Clinic (GB), Global Water Partnership West Africa (BF), University of Reading (GB), University of Brighton (GB), University of Plymouth (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
5.25
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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