Contemporary Approaches in Public Health to Promote Nutritious Eating Habits

Abstract

It is crucial to address unhealthy eating habits in entire groups of people. A significant cause of the global obesity crisis and one of the top preventable causes of death and disability worldwide is eating a lot of processed and energy-dense foods and not getting enough exercise. As countries deal with rising obesity rates, many new and promising policy ideas that could help stop overeating and improve the quality of people's diets are still not being used enough. This review discusses changes in eating habits and their implications for public health, as well as the groups of people most likely to have poor nutrition and the potential effects of public health interventions. We examine several recent policy changes aimed at promoting healthier eating. These include rules that require specific products or practices, financial incentives, limits on food marketing (especially to kids), better nutrition labeling and education, and changes to food environments that make healthier choices the default option.