A Systematic Review on Empowerment for Healthy Nutrition in Health Promotion

Overview

Journal Public Health Nutr

Publisher Cambridge University Press

Date 2015 Feb 18

PMID 25686640

Citations 16

Authors

Susanne Brandstetter

Jana Ruter

Janina Curbach

Julika Loss

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The present review aimed to identify and synthesize studies that used an empowerment approach within the field of healthy nutrition.

Design: A systematic review was conducted. Studies were identified by database searching (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Psyndex). Searching, selecting and reporting were done according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) Statement.

Setting: Health promotion including the subject of healthy nutrition.

Subjects: Individuals from non-clinical populations.

Results: A total of 1226 studies were screened for eligibility, eight studies were finally included. Three studies used the empowerment approach within a qualitative research paradigm and five studies within (quasi-) experimental intervention studies. Heterogeneity in settings, samples and evaluation methods was high. Most studies referred to the key message of empowerment, i.e. taking control over one's own life. However, the ways in which this key message was implemented in the interventions differed considerably.

Conclusions: The number of studies included was very low. Furthermore, most studies had some limitations in terms of reporting how the empowerment approach was actually applied. The empowerment approach still seems to be unfamiliar within the field of healthy nutrition.

Citing Articles

Pregnant Women's Experiences With a Collaborative Midwife-Dietitian Empowerment Programme to Improve Diet Quality.

van Lonkhuijzen R, Prins S, van Loghem F, de Vries J, Wagemakers A J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025; 38(1):e70027.

PMID: 39934649 PMC: 11813828. DOI: 10.1111/jhn.70027.

An empowerment programme to improve diet quality during pregnancy - the Power 4 a Healthy Pregnancy cluster randomised controlled trial.

van Lonkhuijzen R, de Vries J, Brouwer-Brolsma E, Cremers S, Faessen J, Feskens E BMC Public Health. 2025; 25(1):338.

PMID: 39871233 PMC: 11771105. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-21344-z.

Empowerment-based nutrition interventions on blood pressure: a randomized comparative effectiveness trial.

Moreira-Rosario A, Ismael S, Barreiros-Mota I, Morais J, Rodrigues C, Castela I Front Public Health. 2023; 11:1277355.

PMID: 38026295 PMC: 10679749. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1277355.

The role of the partner in the support of a pregnant woman's healthy diet: an explorative qualitative study.

van Lonkhuijzen R, Rustenhoven H, de Vries J, Wagemakers A BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023; 23(1):760.

PMID: 37898778 PMC: 10612286. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-06072-9.

PROTOCOL: The effects of empowerment-based nutrition interventions on the nutritional status of adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries.

Riddle A, Kroeger C, Ramage A, Bhutta Z, Kristjansson E, Vlassoff C Campbell Syst Rev. 2023; 15(3).

PMID: 37131509 PMC: 8356511. DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1042.

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