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Sustainability
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Community-Based Approaches to Healthy Eating, Active Living, and the Prevention...
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Community-Based Approaches to Healthy Eating, Active Living, and the Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in High-Risk Populations

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Health, Well-Being and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 6753

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Maria Maynard

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, City Campus, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK
Interests: migration, ethnicity, and health; ethnic health inequalities; community-based participatory approaches; arts-based community engagement; type 2 diabetes and obesity prevention
Dr. Tanefa A. Apekey

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, City Campus, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK
Interests: novel, reliable and comprehensive nutrient composition data for popular multi-ethnic foods in the UK; culturally acceptable healthy diet education programmes; reducing inequalities in nutrition-related disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Support for local settings to promote healthy eating and physical activity (PA) environments and behaviours, in addition to upstream policy action, is key in the prevention of obesity and other noncommunicable diseases. Community-designed and community-delivered interventions, with culturally relevant materials, can significantly increase acceptability and programme success. Further, research-engaged peer or “lay” health workers from target communities can provide credibility, expertise, and empathy in intervention delivery. The evidence base for community-based approaches to engage the highest-risk populations is growing, and may emerge as significant in tackling diet, PA, and weight-related inequalities in the future. Advancement of this area of inquiry needs appropriate theoretical underpinning, and commitment to the timely progression of developmental work to pilot and definitive trials, in a wide range of community settings and populations.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore new research (primary research as well as systematic or in-depth reviews) relating to community- and evidence-based interventions addressing healthy eating, PA, overweight, and obesity among adults, children, and/or families. Community-based research within any high-risk population is eligible; however, we particularly encourage studies which focus on addressing the topic area(s) in racialized/minoritized and/or otherwise marginalized or underserved communities, with an emphasis on coproduction. We welcome papers reporting the evaluation of evidence-based interventions, including process evaluation, especially those that demonstrate or foster sustainable change. In addition, qualitative and mixed-methods studies aimed at exploring the factors that influence barriers, facilitators, feasibility, and acceptability of interventions and their sustainability, including experiences of participating in community-based programmes, are of interest. Theory or methods studies are also eligible, particularly those which explore conceptual definitions of sustainability/sustainment; models which incorporate wider, intersecting, social, cultural, and environmental influences; theory-driven strategies that underpin the engagement and fostering of trust needed for effective and sustainable intervention; and studies exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development and delivery of community-based interventions.

Prof. Dr. Maria Maynard
Dr. Tanefa A. Apekey
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • diet
  • physical activity
  • sedentary behaviours
  • obesity
  • overweight
  • weight management
  • community
  • ethnicity
  • sustainability
  • sustainment

Published Papers (3 papers)

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16 pages, 283 KiB  
Article
Informing Diet and Physical Activity Interventions with Family Involvement in an Urban Setting: Views of Children and Adults in Lagos, Nigeria
by Oritseweyinmi Orighoye, Tanefa A. Apekey and Maria J. Maynard
Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 7850; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15107850 - 10 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1928
Abstract
There is limited evidence on diet and physical activity (PA) interventions to prevent childhood over- and under-nutrition in Nigeria, particularly those with parental involvement. The aim of this qualitative cross-sectional study was to explore parents’, children’s, and other stakeholders’ views on what might [...] Read more.
There is limited evidence on diet and physical activity (PA) interventions to prevent childhood over- and under-nutrition in Nigeria, particularly those with parental involvement. The aim of this qualitative cross-sectional study was to explore parents’, children’s, and other stakeholders’ views on what might enable or hinder participation in diet and PA interventions with parental involvement, and potential intervention components likely to be feasible and acceptable. The study took place in Lagos State, Nigeria. Sixteen boys and girls aged 8–11 years in four participating schools were involved in the study. In addition, women (n = 19) and men (n = 13) aged 18–60 years took part. These included parents, teachers, school heads, community leaders, health professionals, and health or education civil servants, recruited via the participating schools, community and professional links. Data were collected in schools, homes, and places of work via one-to-one interviews and focus groups, audio-recorded with participants’ consent. Topics included knowledge about a balanced diet and active living; frequency of exercise and barriers and facilitators of participation; and ideas for fostering good diet and physical activity habits. Socio-demographic data were collected orally at the start of each discussion. Thematic analysis of verbatim transcripts of the recordings was conducted. Three overarching themes were identified: (1) Active community collaboration; (2) strategies for involving families; and (3) schools as key settings for interventions. The main barriers to participation in potential interventions included poor access to clean water, safe outdoor play space, and menstrual hygiene products. Suggested solutions included increased security, infrastructure improvements using recycled materials, school gardening, and health campaigns funded by local dignitaries. Health literacy education for parents, tailored to local dialects, was considered an important potential intervention component that would engage families. The feasibility and acceptability of grassroots suggestions for intervention components and parental involvement could usefully be explored in future pilot studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community-Based Approaches to Healthy Eating, Active Living, and the Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in High-Risk Populations)
14 pages, 505 KiB  
Article
Improving Sustainable Food Access and Availability in Rural Communities: An Assessment of Needed Resources
by Catherine E. Sanders, Tatevik Markosyan, Kristin E. Gibson, Allison R. Byrd and Alexa J. Lamm
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6293; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076293 - 6 Apr 2023
Viewed by 2117
Abstract
(1) Background: Extension educators are uniquely positioned to assist with sustainable community-based food environment change, especially related to obesity prevention efforts, because they are located in almost every county in the U.S. Extension educators strive to build resilient communities by improving food access [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Extension educators are uniquely positioned to assist with sustainable community-based food environment change, especially related to obesity prevention efforts, because they are located in almost every county in the U.S. Extension educators strive to build resilient communities by improving food access and bridging various actors involved in the food systems. Needs assessments of desired educational program resources by priority populations, such as those in rural areas, are needed to ensure effective food access and nutrition literacy programs are established based on clientele needs. (2) Methods: Using a non-probability opt-in survey, data were collected from 780 rural residents in a U.S. state facing challenges with obesity rates due to lack of access to healthy, nutritious food to identify barriers to accessing fresh produce and desired educational program resources. (3) Results: The need for socioeconomic and market-based solutions within the built environment indicated educators should increase partnerships with economic resource organizations to enhance community resilience related to food access. (4) Conclusions: An increased understanding can enhance the efficacy of the resources Extension educators offer, resulting in improved food access and security by directly addressing clientele’s demonstrated needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community-Based Approaches to Healthy Eating, Active Living, and the Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in High-Risk Populations)
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13 pages, 255 KiB  
Perspective
Diet and Nutritional Status of West African and Caribbean Adults in the United Kingdom: Perspectives to Inform Community-Based Approaches to Healthy Eating
by Lauren Senior, Maria J. Maynard and Tanefa A. Apekey
Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6722; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086722 - 16 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1773
Abstract
Reliable data on the diet and nutritional status of African and Caribbean adults in the UK is essential for the implementation of targeted interventions to prevent diseases, and to ensure health equity. This review provides an overview of diet and nutritional status, and [...] Read more.
Reliable data on the diet and nutritional status of African and Caribbean adults in the UK is essential for the implementation of targeted interventions to prevent diseases, and to ensure health equity. This review provides an overview of diet and nutritional status, and research and intervention priorities for West African and Caribbean adults in the UK. Cross-sectional studies that compared the two groups with their counterparts in their country of origin and/or in Europe were identified from PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane and CINAHL electronic databases and manual searches of bibliographies. Six eligible studies were reviewed. Reported nutrient composition focused predominantly on energy, and macronutrients, with limited information on micronutrients. Carbohydrates and fats were the main sources of energy. Low quantities of non-starch polysaccharides fibre and protein were reported. Participants from rural areas in Ghana had lower average BMI and smaller waist circumference compared to their counterparts in urban Ghana and Europe. Ghanaians in Europe consumed more alcohol and were less physically active than those in the home country. The studies measured limited nutrient composition and health-related outcomes. Studies that measure a wide range of anthropometric and clinical outcomes and key micronutrients, and use objective measures of health-related risk behaviours are needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community-Based Approaches to Healthy Eating, Active Living, and the Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in High-Risk Populations)
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