This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
In this study, researchers interviewed 45 young people (aged 11 – 18 years) about how their environment and social life influence their food choices.
They found that young people:
- wanted to express their independence and make their own choices about food
- saw socialising as more important than food; their food choices were influenced by where they socialised (such as fast food restaurants)
- had little money and many felt encouraged to eat unhealthy, cheap, and on-the-go foods
- made quick decisions, and often bought food with eye-catching packaging in prominent locations; they liked familiar foods.
The findings offer insight into how teenagers’ social lives and desire for independence shape their decisions about food purchases. They will interest policy makers aiming to encourage healthy eating.
For information on healthy eating, visit the NHS website.
The issue: how do food environments and teenagers’ social lives influence food choices?
Food environments influence our decisions about what we eat; people who live in a neighbourhood with more takeaways may eat more fast food. Decisions about food ultimately impact our long-term health.
National and international policies aim to make food environments healthier; Transport for London banned advertisements for foods high in fat, salt, and sugar.
This study explored how young people’s food environment and social life influences their decisions about food. Insights could inform policies on healthy eating.
What’s new?
Between October 2020 and April 2021, researchers interviewed 45 teenagers (aged 11 – 18) in 13 online focus groups in England. Most participants were female (64%), White British (80%), and from wealthier areas (62%).
The researchers identified several themes. Underlying them all was young people's desire to make their own choices and express their independence. One participant said, “We only have a little bit of freedom so we just use it on food we like. Maybe when… we’re older we’ll think about being healthy more.”
- Socialising is more important than food. Spending time with friends was more important than eating. Fast food restaurants welcomed their age group and provided a comfortable meeting place. One participant said: “it’s quick food and it’s good when you’re with… a big group… because there are loads of tables and stuff.” These places were seen as somewhere to socialise rather than to have a ‘proper’ meal.
- Value for money. Young people had little money and wanted to spend what they did have on unhealthy food they enjoyed; healthy food was too expensive, they said. They stretched their budget through meal deals, vouchers, and saver items, often for unhealthy foods.
- Low effort choices. Unhealthy foods were abundant where they met; and even if healthy options were available, young people tended not to choose them: “I’ve never seen someone buy a salad in [fast food restaurant].” To make a quick decision, many bought food in prominent store locations with eye-catching packaging. Colour and wording could make some foods seem healthier than they were, and calorie labelling was difficult to interpret, some said. Others said the government and food companies could encourage healthier choices.
- Familiar food. Participants preferred places they knew and were reluctant to try new outlets. They frequently saw food advertising at bus stops and on social media, TV, and YouTube. Familiar branding, especially on social media, made them want certain foods: “Say someone ordered a [pizza brand], and they post it on their Instagram story, and it makes you think, ‘oh, I want a [pizza brand] now.’
Why is this important?
Teenagers’ food environments generally promoted unhealthy, cheap, and familiar foods while they socialised with friends. Young people made food choices to express their independence. The findings offer an insight into teenagers’ relationship with food environments and how they are influenced by their social life.
Policies on teenagers’ food environments may need to address teenagers’ social and emotional needs, alongside their food choices, the researchers say. Teenagers wanted to be able to meet in open spaces with tables that could accommodate large groups. The researchers suggest that teenagers are involved in the development of policies.
Most participants were from wealthier areas, so the findings may be different in more deprived areas.
What’s next?
These findings, along with other evidence, will be presented to a Parliamentary inquiry by the Committee on Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The inquiry seeks to understand how better planning and urban design could enhance the health and wellbeing of children and young people, and of the whole population. The research has been discussed with local authorities in Southampton, who are considering how planning and zoning regulations could better support health and wellbeing.
Policies to ban prominent placing of unhealthy foods in shops and fast food restaurants could be effective, the researchers suggest, along with restrictions on multibuy promotions of foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. Government restrictions on TV and online advertising of these foods, scheduled for October 2025, will be helpful, the researchers say.
The research informed the design of a further study to examine the impact of UK legislation to restrict the prominent placement of foods high in fat, sugar and salt on convenience stores in England.
You may be interested to read
This is a summary of: Shaw S, and others. The interplay between social and food environments on UK adolescents’ food choices: implications for policy. Health Promotion International 2023; 38: 1 – 13.
An article on food environments from the European Public Health Alliance.
A blog about food environments and young people by UNICEF.
Information on taking part in NIHR studies about diet.
A related study showing that health is often not a driver of young people’s health behaviours: Strömmer S, and others. How do we harness adolescent values in designing health behaviour change interventions? A qualitative study. British Journal of Health Psychology 2021; 26: 1176 – 93.
Funding: The study was supported by the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and an NIHR programme grant for applied research.
Conflicts of Interest: No relevant conflicts of interest.
Disclaimer: Summaries on NIHR Evidence are not a substitute for professional medical advice. They provide information about research which is funded or supported by the NIHR. Please note that the views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
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