School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Young and Resilient Research Centre, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
J Hum Nutr Diet. 2023 Dec;36(6):2295-2309. doi: 10.1111/jhn.13228. Epub 2023 Sep 20.
Global food systems are failing adolescents. Poor diet quality driving malnutrition among adolescents around the world and the quality of foods eaten by adolescents not only determines their health and development, but also is the foundation of thriving communities. The present study aimed to engage adolescents across low-income, middle-income and high-income countries to determine their lived experience of food, food systems and the challenges they face within their food systems.
The study used the Distributed Data Generation method pioneered by the Young and Resilient Research Centre, at Western Sydney University, to conduct workshops with adolescents aged 10-19 years across the globe in collaboration with UNICEF. Participatory workshops were designed to capture qualitative data on adolescents lived experiences and perspectives of their food systems, food sustainability and food security, and how improvements can be made. Thematic analysis was undertaken to analyse qualitative data. Descriptive statistics were generated for demographic data captured.
Six hundred and forty adolescents across 18 countries participated. Three key themes emerged, which included experiences of food, challenges to food systems and strengthening food systems. Adolescents saw potential in empowering communities to create change and contribute to food system transformation. Adolescents called for inclusion in decision-making from local food practice to large global policy development.
The study results demonstrated how adolescents experience their food systems and want to see sustainable change, although they also want to be a part of the change. Adolescents described that there needs to be an active choice to work with them, listen to their lived experience and across all levels of society strengthen food systems. To achieve this, adolescents need to be involved in decision-making around their food systems for a sustainable future.
全球粮食系统未能满足青少年的需求。世界各地的青少年饮食质量差，导致营养不良，而青少年所食用食物的质量不仅决定了他们的健康和发育，而且是繁荣社区的基础。本研究旨在让来自低收入、中等收入和高收入国家的青少年参与进来，以了解他们对食物、食物系统的亲身体验，以及他们在食物系统中面临的挑战。
该研究使用由西悉尼大学青年和弹性研究中心首创的分布式数据生成方法，与儿基会合作，在全球范围内为 10-19 岁的青少年举办了研讨会。参与式研讨会旨在收集关于青少年生活经验以及对食物系统、食物可持续性和粮食安全的看法的定性数据，并探讨如何进行改进。采用主题分析方法对定性数据进行分析。对收集到的人口统计数据进行描述性统计分析。
来自 18 个国家的 644 名青少年参与了研究。出现了三个关键主题，包括对食物的体验、对食物系统的挑战和加强食物系统。青少年看到了赋权社区以创造变革并为食物系统转型做出贡献的潜力。青少年呼吁从地方食物实践到大型全球政策制定，让他们参与决策。
研究结果表明，青少年如何体验他们的食物系统，并希望看到可持续的变化，尽管他们也希望成为变革的一部分。青少年表示，需要积极选择与他们合作，倾听他们的生活经验，并在社会各层面加强食物系统。为了实现这一目标，青少年需要参与到他们的食物系统的决策中，以实现可持续的未来。
