How Social Dietetics Can Overturn Inequality in Access to Healthy Eating: A Literature Review

Abstract: Dietary inequality represents a significant challenge with extensive consequences for public health, underscoring the urgent necessity for innovative strategies to enhance food accessibility. Various social determinants, such as economic status, educational attainment, and geographic location, play a crucial role in creating disparities in access to healthy food choices. This situation has given rise to the field of social dietetics, which is essential in tackling these inequalities. Social dietetics investigates the complex relationships between food environments and health outcomes in different communities, advocating for systemic reforms that ensure fair access to nutritious food options. Recent studies have highlighted the harmful effects of ultra-processed foods on mental health and behavior, emphasizing the critical need for interventions across multiple social levels. Furthermore, lessons learned from related fields like gambling and tobacco control stress the necessity of comprehensive public health strategies that could also benefit the food system. This study aims to conduct a narrative review of social dietetics to shed light on effective methods for alleviating food insecurity, especially among at-risk populations. Keywords: social dietetics, inequality. Title: How Social Dietetics Can Overturn Inequality in Access to Healthy Eating: A Literature Review Author: Fountoulaki Styliani-Theodora, Kostoula Alexandra, Panagiotidis Sofoklis, Aggelakou-Vaitsi Stamatina, Vaitsis Nikolaos International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing ISSN 2394-7330 Vol. 12, Issue 2, May 2025 - August 2025 Page No: 8-14 Novelty Journals Website: www.noveltyjournals.com Published Date: 26-May-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15516116 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/How%20Social%20Dietetics%20Can%20Overturn-26052025-2.pdf