Kounnavong, Thidatheb, Sato, Miho, Turner, Christopher ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8091-1108, Ferguson, Elaine, Xayavong, Hongkham, Vonglokham, Manithong, Cox, Sharon E., Okumura, Junko and Moji, Kazuhiko (2025) Drivers of food acquisition practices among adolescents in suburban food environments of Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Global Health Action, 18 (1). ISSN 1654-9716 (Print), 1654-9880 (Online) (doi:10.1080/16549716.2025.2451475)

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Abstract

Background: Dietary shifts among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries are exacerbating the double burden of malnutrition. Understanding the drivers of adolescent food acquisition and consumption practices and their lived experiences of the food environment is crucial for the effective development of targeted interventions and policies.
Objective: To explore drivers of food acquisition and consumption practices among adolescents from two suburban schools in the food environments of Phonhong District, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Methods: We implemented a Qualitative-Geographical Information System methodology, featuring participatory photography, follow-up photo-elicitation interviews and focus group discussions with 30 adolescents from April to July 2022. Thematic analysis triangulated key themes from photos, maps, and transcripts.
Results: Drivers of food acquisition and consumption included interactions across external, interpersonal, and intrapersonal domains. The six key themes were food availability and accessibility, product properties and convenience, peers and social media, caregivers and household practices, affordability, desirability, and autonomy, and perceptions, beliefs, and social norms. Consumption of ultra-processed foods was driven by the availability and accessibility of these affordable products in schools. By contrast, consumption of fruits and vegetables was driven by parental food practices at home.
Conclusion: A comprehensive multi-scalar approach is required to improve adolescent diets and nutrition in the suburban food environment of Lao PDR. This includes restricting the sale of ultra-processed foods in schools, promoting home gardening, increasing caregivers’ awareness and engagement with adolescents about the benefits of healthy food choices, and leveraging social media to encourage healthy eating behaviors.
Paper Context
Main findings: The intricate and multifaceted drivers of food acquisition and consumption of Lao adolescents shed light on their tendency and preference to consume ultra-processed foods over fruits and vegetables.
Added knowledge: The study reveals the diverse food environment in suburban Lao PDR, offering accessibility to both healthy and unhealthy foods. School food environments could inadvertently promote the consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Global health impact for policy and action: A comprehensive, integrated public health nutrition strategy that targets school food environments, fosters caregiver involvement, harnesses positive peer influence through social media and acknowledges adolescents’ autonomy is needed to promote and cultivate healthy dietary habits among adolescents in Lao PDR and other similar low- and middle-income countries.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	food environment, adolescents, Lao PDR
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research > Food Systems & Nutrition
Last Modified:	04 Feb 2025 09:45
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/49617

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