Publicação
Promoting Healthy and Sustainable Diet: A blueprint from Cascais local government to empower the community
| Resumo: | ABSTRACT - Introduction: Considering Health Promotion an investment in sustainable socio-economic development, policies play a role both in facilitating and hindering intervention. Since diet is a modifiable risk factor with a high impact on the reduction of chronic non-communicable diseases, it is important to intervene in different environments and contexts, favouring a local approach. This study aims to identify and describe local dimensions related to healthy and sustainable eating, characterising the municipality of Cascais, for the future materialisation of a Local Plan for the Promotion of Healthy and Sustainable Eating. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was followed, based on the Dahlgren-Whitehead Model and the Ontario Health Promotion Planning Model, with data collected between November 2023 and June 2024. Primary/secondary and national/local data was collected, using quantitative analysis (primary data from the ‘Health and Well-being in Cascais’ questionnaire) and qualitative analysis (secondary data categorised with an ecological vision). Results/Discussion: When analysing the four dimensions used for the situational assessment (sociodemographic profile, health profile, community responses and policies/structures), Cascais faces inequalities at parish level, such as the disparity in purchasing power, the increase in vulnerable groups (e.g. immigrants), the ageing of the population or the existence of food insecurity. Despite these challenges, community responses, as well as the policies/structures created in the municipality, can contribute to improving socio-economic and health indicators, directly or indirectly related to food. Conclusions: As in the municipality of Cascais, local government occupies a key position in creating environments that promote health, support inclusion and foster participation, contributing to changes in social and individual behaviours related to eating habits. The use of an ecological model can facilitate aggregation and reflection on the multiplicity of levels that are involved in the complexity of the food system. |
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| Autores principais: | Soeiro, Tânia Miguel |
| Assunto: | Local governance local policies local health promotion healthy eating sustainable eating Governança local políticas locais promoção da saúde local alimentação saudável alimentação sustentável |
| Ano: | 2025 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Resumo: | ABSTRACT - Introduction: Considering Health Promotion an investment in sustainable socio-economic development, policies play a role both in facilitating and hindering intervention. Since diet is a modifiable risk factor with a high impact on the reduction of chronic non-communicable diseases, it is important to intervene in different environments and contexts, favouring a local approach. This study aims to identify and describe local dimensions related to healthy and sustainable eating, characterising the municipality of Cascais, for the future materialisation of a Local Plan for the Promotion of Healthy and Sustainable Eating. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was followed, based on the Dahlgren-Whitehead Model and the Ontario Health Promotion Planning Model, with data collected between November 2023 and June 2024. Primary/secondary and national/local data was collected, using quantitative analysis (primary data from the ‘Health and Well-being in Cascais’ questionnaire) and qualitative analysis (secondary data categorised with an ecological vision). Results/Discussion: When analysing the four dimensions used for the situational assessment (sociodemographic profile, health profile, community responses and policies/structures), Cascais faces inequalities at parish level, such as the disparity in purchasing power, the increase in vulnerable groups (e.g. immigrants), the ageing of the population or the existence of food insecurity. Despite these challenges, community responses, as well as the policies/structures created in the municipality, can contribute to improving socio-economic and health indicators, directly or indirectly related to food. Conclusions: As in the municipality of Cascais, local government occupies a key position in creating environments that promote health, support inclusion and foster participation, contributing to changes in social and individual behaviours related to eating habits. The use of an ecological model can facilitate aggregation and reflection on the multiplicity of levels that are involved in the complexity of the food system. |
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