A new study from Cornell University suggests that promoting healthy eating habits at the family level can significantly improve the health of people with chronic diseases. The study, led by senior research associate Ramya Ambikapthi, highlights the role of family dynamics in shaping eating habits and the potential to leverage these dynamics in public health strategies.
The study, published in Global food security on August 7 will introduce the Family Dynamics Food Environment Framework (FDF), developed after reviewing nearly 7,000 articles. The framework emphasizes the importance of family support in managing diet-related chronic diseases such as HIV, which requires consistent diet for effective treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Ambikapthi points out that while nutrition programs often focus on specific groups, such as pregnant women and children, a broader approach that considers the dietary habits of the entire family could lead to healthier outcomes for all. The study calls for further research to examine how family dietary dynamics can be extrapolated to other contexts, including urban settings.
This research was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is intended to inform future nutrition policies and actions.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading digital-only news publication. Founded in 1998, the company has been informing citizens for more than two decades. Have a tip? Send it to (email protected).
