Social, cultural and political factors

that act as enablers for or barriers to

healthy eating
 Social, cultural and political factors (enablers and
barriers)
Lesson Goal
I can analyse the interaction between a range of factors that act as enablers or barriers to healthy eating
among youth.
Success Criteria
I can list social, cultural and political factors that act as enablers or barriers to healthy eating among youth.
I can explain how these factors can act as enablers of barriers.

Coursework
Exam Questions 1 – 10
Booklet Tables
Homework
Uncompleted coursework
Study for SAC 2
Social, cultural and political factors (enablers and
barriers)

What, how, where, when and how much people eat is

influenced by a wide variety of factors.

Enablers: have a positive impact on

healthy eating

Barriers: have a negative impact on

healthy eating
Social, cultural and political factors (enablers and
barriers)

• Something that can support or assist someone in

Enabler
doing something for themselves
• E.g. knowledge, skills, access to information,
family, time and money that can help youth to eat a
healthy diet

• Something that is an obstacle or hurdle that may

Barrier
prevent or make it more difficult for someone to
achieve something
• E.g. Lack of money, poor skills, taste/habits or lack
of knowledge
Factors that act as enablers and barriers to healthy eating
Political
• Taxation
• Policy

Social Cultural
• Family • Culture
• Friends • Religion
• Media • Traditions/celebrations
• Education
• Employment
• Income

Factors that act

as enablers and
barriers to
healthy eating
 Family
Both barrier and enabler

Parents have a significant influence on establishing the early eating patterns of

their children
• In childhood food may have been used as a reward for good behaviour (barrier)
• They may turn to these foods to reward themselves during youth

Strong evidence that children’s intake of fruit, vegetables and energy-dense foods
influences their intake in adolescence (enabler)
• If the family can establish these positive dietary patterns early in life, it can have a positive impact on
healthy eating in youth

Parental attitudes
• Food bought/cooked at home e.g. processed foods compared to home made foods

Family SES (high SES typically consume more fresh fruit/vegetables)

 Friends

Both barrier and enabler

Can influence the amount of food young people eat – either

more or less than they would normally consume

Influence the type of food youth eat

 Media (including social media)

Both barrier and enabler

Youth need to evaluate the reliability of the information before using it as a basis
for decisions about the food they eat.

Government media advertisements help with convey information and then

individuals can complete further research which will act as an enabler.

The media can also be a barrier by selling a product whether it is healthy or

unhealthy and can provide misleading information.
 Education
Enabler
• Youth who are well informed and understand what a healthy lifestyle is
are better able to make healthier choices
• Nutrition education in schools will help develop sustainable healthy
eating behaviours. Education programs need to include food preparation
classes to help develop their skills to produce healthy low cost meals at
home.

Barrier
• A lack of education and therefore knowledge about nutrition and healthy
eating can mean you are more influenced by media and marketing of
food and make ill informed decisions.
 Occupation
Closely linked with income

Enabler
• Increased income which leads to increase in opportunities to
purchase healthier foods
• Café or cafeteria with only healthy foods at workplace.

Barrier
• Loss of time to prepare food, leads to increase consumption
of convenience foods
• Lack of skills to prepare food and to pass on from generation
to generation
 Income
Enabler
• Having enough money to spend on healthy meals
• Higher SES linked with healthy foods (whole grains, low
fat dairy)

Barrier
• Data shows lower income households spend less on fruit
and vegetables
• Linked with knowledge and skills of healthy balanced
diets and skills to prepare meals
• Can afford to eat out more and drink alcohol.
 Culture

Culture will inevitably influence on an individuals food intake

In some cultures specific food items can having meaning attached.

Enabler
• Asian cultures include lower fat foods, lots of vegetables.

Barrier
• Some cultures it is common for bacon, eggs and pastries
• Some cultures require the women to give preference to the men and children over herself and
daughters which can result in nutritional deficiencies
• Some cultures associate food with celebrations which can lead to over eating.
 Religion
Often associated with specific celebrations or events.
• Christmas, Easter, Lent, Ramadan and Hanukkah

Some religions promote specific dietary rules

• Jewish people follow a kosher diet while Muslims eat halal food

Enabler
• Formal family meals to celebrate are often healthy and nutritious

Barrier
• During celebrations people often consume more discretionary foods that
normal (e.g. alcohol & desserts)
• People tend to over eat
• Some practices require fasting or abstaining from certain foods.
 Taxation

The government is responsible for determining the taxation charges on

food

The Goods and Services tax (GST) is changed on certain foods however
some goods are viewed as exempt from GST
• Exempt: Bread, plain milk, bottled water, infant formula, meat, fruit and vegetables
• GST: cakes, biscuits, ice cream, soft drink, flavoured milk, chocolates and sports drinks

Sugar tax has been a regularly debated topic

• This would act as an enabler to healthy eating. Making foods high in sugar more
expensive and fresh foods cheaper
 Policy
FSANZ is the government agency responsible for developing policies
regarding food standards and labelling in Australia

Enablers
• Schools having a healthy eating policy so their canteens only sell healthy options
• Restrictions on advertising junk foods to children between in peak viewing times.

Barriers
• Popular TV shows (The Voice, The Block) are permitted to include junk food advertising
because they do not specifically target children.
Food security and availability

Food availability • Sufficient quantities of food are available on a consistent basis

• Sufficient resources are available to obtain appropriate foods for a

Food access nutritious diet

• Appropriate use, based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as

Food use well as adequate food preparation facilities

Food stability • Stability of availability and access over time.

 Availability and access

Barrier
• Having access to a wide range of less healthy foods
• Remote areas where conditions are not conducive to
growing fresh fruit and vegetables

Enabler
• Schools and worksites with healthy food available
• Urban areas having access to fresh fruit and vegetables
Social, cultural and political factors (enablers and
barriers)

Interesting Points:
Taxation
• Should a sugar tax be impose?
• Should a junk food tax be imposed?

Policy
• Should a ban on junk food advertising be introduced?
Enablers and Barriers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZoDHaF__NI
Coursework
Questions