Michelle Holdsworth
Biographic Data
| ID | 3603953 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Michelle Holdsworth |
| GIVEN NAMES | Michelle |
| FAMILY NAME | Holdsworth |
| SIGNATURE | HOLDSWORTH M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Institut de Recherche pour le Développement |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6028-885X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 59 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 55 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 59 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1967 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Advertising ultra-processed foods around urban and rural schools in Kenya
Marketing of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can influence children’s food preferences and consumption patterns. However, limited data exist on the extent and nature of UPF marketing around schools in low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya. This study assessed the extent, type, and content of food and beverage advertising near schools in urban and rural settings in Kenya. We conducted a cross-sectional study in June–July 2021 across three…
How Children's Experiences and Perceptions of Their School Food Environment Influence Their Food‐Related Decisions In‐School in Urban Ghana
School food environments play an important role in shaping children's food-related decisions, including where and what foods to acquire and consume on a school day. In Ghana, evidence indicates that food environments in and around schools may limit healthy food acquisition and consumption behaviour. This study aimed to understand how children's experiences and perceptions of their school food environment influence food acquisition and consumption…
Understanding the Decentralised School Food Procurement Model in Ghana Through the Lens of School Caterers
The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GFSP) operates a decentralised procurement model, in which school caterers are responsible for: selecting, purchasing, transporting, preparing, delivering and distributing school meals. However, caterers' views and experiences are rarely taken into account. This study aimed to better understand GSFP caterers' lived professional experience to identify context-specific challenges and solutions around their food p…
Drivers and solutions to unhealthy food consumption by adolescents in urban slums, Kenya
Objective: To explore the perceptions, drivers and potential solutions to the consumption of unhealthy, ultra-processed foods (UPF) and foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) and their contribution to the double burden of malnutrition among adolescents living in urban slums, Kenya. Design: Qualitative participatory research, through Photovoice, group discussions and community dialogues. Inductive, thematic analysis was undertaken. Setting: Thre…
Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022
BACKGROUND: Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. METHODS: ). For school-aged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI 2 SD above the median). FINDINGS: From 1990 to 20…
How do publicly procured school meals programmes in sub-Saharan Africa improve nutritional outcomes for children and adolescents
Objective: This review aimed to (i) synthesise evidence of the impact of publicly procured school meals programmes on nutritional outcomes of children/adolescents (5–18 years) in sub-Saharan Africa and (ii) identify challenges and facilitators to implementing effective school meals programmes. Design: Mixed-methods systematic review ( n 7 databases). Nutritional outcomes assessed were anthropometrics (underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight/ob…
The promotion of ultra-processed foods in modern retail food outlets in rural and urban areas in Kenya
Objective: To assess the availability and marketing of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in modern retail food outlets (supermarkets and minimarts) in Kenya and associated factors. Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kenya from August 2021 to October 2021. Variables included the geographic location and the socio-economic status (SES) levels, the food items displayed for sale and advertised in the stores, and locations in the stores such…
Capturing the moment
This snapshot review captures recent advances in the use of participatory photography methods within food environment research, featuring 28 peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2022. Records were retrieved from a systematic search of the databases PubMed and Scopus. Studies featured high-income (64%) and low- and middle-income countries (36%). Local and school food environments were common focal sites, with studies typically investi…
Exploring the magnitude and drivers of the double burden of malnutrition at maternal and dyad levels in peri‐urban Peru
Multiple forms of malnutrition coexist in Peru, especially in peri-urban areas and poor households. We investigated the magnitude of, and the contribution of, dietary and socio-demographic factors to the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) at maternal (i.e., maternal overweight/obesity with anaemia) and dyad (i.e., maternal overweight/obesity with child anaemia) levels. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among low-income mother-child (6-23 mo…
Community perceptions on the factors in the social food environment that influence dietary behaviour in cities of Kenya and Ghana
Objective: To explore communities’ perspectives on the factors in the social food environment that influence dietary behaviours in African cities. Design: A qualitative study using participatory photography (Photovoice). Participants took and discussed photographs representing factors in the social food environment that influence their dietary behaviours. Follow-up in-depth interviews allowed participants to tell the ‘stories’ of their photograph…
Availability of healthy and unhealthy foods in modern retail outlets located in selected districts of Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Background Intake of unhealthy foods is linked to the onset of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Availability of unhealthy (nutritionally poor) foods can influence preference, purchasing and consumption of such foods. This study determined the healthiness of foods sold at modern retail outlets- supermarkets and mini-marts in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Methods All modern retail outlets located in six districts of G…
Advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages around primary and junior high schools in Ghana's most urbanized and populous region
There is an abundance of unhealthy food advertisements around primary and junior high schools in the Greater Accra Region. Policy actions such as restricting the promotion of unhealthy foods in children's settings are needed to protect pupils from such advertising practices
Factors Influencing Adolescents' Dietary Behaviors in the School and Home Environment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Background: Malnutrition affects many adolescents in Ethiopia. Over one-third of adolescent girls and two-thirds of boys are thin. Overweight and obesity in Ethiopia is mostly a concern in urban populations of higher wealth quintiles. Urbanization and globalization of diets is shifting food environments. The objective of this study was to assess whether food environments in and around schools in urban Ethiopia influence dietary diversity, quality…
Diet and food insecurity among mothers, infants, and young children in Peru before and during Covid‐19
The COVID-19 pandemic may impact diet and nutrition through increased household food insecurity, lack of access to health services, and poorer quality diets. The primary aim of this study is to assess the impact of the pandemic on dietary outcomes of mothers and their infants and young children (IYC) in low-income urban areas of Peru. We conducted a panel study, with one survey prepandemic (n = 244) and one survey 9 months after the onset of COVI…
Individual‐level drivers of dietary behaviour in adolescents and women through the reproductive life course in urban Ghana
Evidence on the individual-level drivers of dietary behaviours in deprived urban contexts in Africa is limited. Understanding how to best inform the development and delivery of interventions to promote healthy dietary behaviours is needed. As noncommunicable diseases account for over 40% of deaths in Ghana, the country has reached an advanced stage of nutrition transition. The aim of this study was to identify individual-level factors (biological…
Body size preferences for women and adolescent girls living in Africa
Objective: To synthesise evidence on body size preferences for females living in Africa and the factors influencing these. Design: Mixed-methods systematic review including searches on Medline, CINHAL, ASSIA, Web of Science and PsycINFO (PROSPERO CRD42015020509). A sequential-explanatory approach was used to integrate quantitative and qualitative findings. Setting: Urban and rural Africa. Participants: Studies of both sexes providing data on body…
Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019
BACKGROUND: Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. METHODS: We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30-79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blo…
Assessing factors influencing adolescents’ dietary behaviours in urban Ethiopia using participatory photography
Objective: To assess factors influencing dietary behaviours of adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Design: Using the qualitative participatory method Photovoice, participants received training on the basics of Photovoice and took photographs related to (un)healthy eating in their environment. Transcripts of individual interviews, focus group discussions and photographs were coded for thematic analysis. Setting: One private and one public school…
Urban physical food environments drive dietary behaviours in Ghana and Kenya
We identified factors in the physical food environment that influence dietary behaviours among low-income dwellers in three African cities (Nairobi, Accra, Ho). We used Photovoice with 142 males/females (≥13 years). In the neighbourhood environment, poor hygiene, environmental sanitation, food contamination and adulteration were key concerns. Economic access was perceived as a major barrier to accessing nutritionally safe and healthy foods. Home …
Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories
BACKGROUND: Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. METHODS: For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease …
Development and validation of the body shape scale (Boshas) for assessing body shape perception in African populations
The BOSHAS is the first sex-specific scale of real African models photographed in face and profile, including large body shape variability. The validation protocol showed good validity and reliability for evaluating body shape perceptions and dissatisfaction of Africans
Dietary behaviours in the context of nutrition transition
Objective: To synthesise evidence of urban dietary behaviours (macronutrients, types of foods, dietary diversity and dietary practices) in two African countries in relation to postulated changes in the context of nutrition transition. Design: Systematic review and meta-analyses, including six online databases and grey literature, 1971–2018 (Protocol CRD42017067718). Setting: Urban Ghana and Kenya. Participants: Population-based studies of healthy…
Factors influencing dietary behaviours in urban food environments in Africa
Objective: To identify factors influencing dietary behaviours in urban food environments in Africa and identify areas for future research. Design: We systematically reviewed published/grey literature (protocol CRD4201706893). Findings were compiled into a map using a socio-ecological model on four environmental levels: individual, social, physical and macro. Setting: Urban food environments in Africa. Participants: Studies involving adolescents a…
Implementation of healthy food environment policies to prevent nutrition-related non-communicable diseases in Ghana
Nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NR-NCDs) are a global health problem, increasingly recognised as driven by unhealthy food environments. Yet little is known about government action to implement food environment-relevant policies, particularly in low-and lower-middle income countries. This study assessed government action, implementation gaps, and priorities to improve the food environment in Ghana. Using the Healthy Food-Environment P…
How ready are communities to implement actions to improve diets of adolescent girls and women in urban Ghana
Despite recognising that unhealthy diets are a public health issue in these urban Ghanaian communities, it is not seen as a priority. The low community readiness ratings highlight the need to increase awareness of the issue prior to intervening to improve diets
Psycho-social influences on food choice in Southern France and Central England
Motivations of consumers that use local, organic fruit and vegetable box schemes in Central England and Southern France
Introducing the idea of 'assumed shared food narratives' in the context of social networks
This study explores the ways in which social networks might shape accounts about food practices. Drawing on insights from the work of Christakis and Fowler () whose claims about the linkages between obesity and social networks have been the subject of vigorous debate in the sociological literature, we present qualitative data from a study of women's' accounts of social networks and food practices, conducted in Nottingham, England. We tentatively …
Central Asians Under Russian Rule
Implementation of healthy food environment policies to prevent nutrition-related non-communicable diseases in Ghana
Nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NR-NCDs) are a global health problem, increasingly recognised as driven by unhealthy food environments. Yet little is known about government action to implement food environment-relevant policies, particularly in low-and lower-middle income countries. This study assessed government action, implementation gaps, and priorities to improve the food environment in Ghana. Using the Healthy Food-Environment P…
I cannot sit here and eat alone when I know a fellow Ghanaian is suffering”
The potential role of taxes and subsidies on food in the prevention of obesity in Europe
BACKGROUND: Obesity implies costs not only for the individual but also for society. The authors explore the opinions of stakeholders on the potential of taxes or subsidies, as measures for tackling obesity in Europe. METHODS: Structured interviews were conducted using Multicriteria Mapping, a computer-based, decision-support tool, with 189 interviewees drawn from 21 different stakeholder categories across nine members of the EU interviews, to app…
Urban physical food environments drive dietary behaviours in Ghana and Kenya
We identified factors in the physical food environment that influence dietary behaviours among low-income dwellers in three African cities (Nairobi, Accra, Ho). We used Photovoice with 142 males/females (≥13 years). In the neighbourhood environment, poor hygiene, environmental sanitation, food contamination and adulteration were key concerns. Economic access was perceived as a major barrier to accessing nutritionally safe and healthy foods. Home …
African stakeholders’ views of research options to improve nutritional status in sub-Saharan Africa
BACKGROUND: Setting research priorities for improving nutrition in Africa is currently ad hoc and there is a need to shift the status quo in the light of slow progress in reducing malnutrition. This study explored African stakeholders' views on research priorities in the context of environmental and socio-demographic changes that will impact on nutritional status in Africa in the coming years. METHODS: Using Multi-Criteria Mapping, quantitative a…
Developing national obesity policy in middle-income countries
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is a rapidly growing threat to public health in both Morocco and Tunisia, where it is reaching similar proportions to high-income countries. Despite this, a national strategy for obesity does not exist in either country. The aim of this study was to explore the views of key stakeholders towards a range of policies to prevent obesity, and thus guide policy makers in their decision making on a na…
Gender and beliefs about memory
Beliefs about subjects' own memory performances and about the memory performances of others were studied as a function of gender in two experiments. Both experiments used adaptations of the Inventory of Memory Experiences (IME) that employed somewhat different response scales. The first experiment used a small sample, heterogeneous with respect to age; the second used a large homogeneous sample of college students. In both experiments, gender was…
Central Asians Under Russian Rule
Gender and beliefs about memory
Beliefs about subjects' own memory performances and about the memory performances of others were studied as a function of gender in two experiments. Both experiments used adaptations of the Inventory of Memory Experiences (IME) that employed somewhat different response scales. The first experiment used a small sample, heterogeneous with respect to age; the second used a large homogeneous sample of college students. In both experiments, gender was…
Gender‐linked differences in everyday memory performance
Recent research has demonstrated that people hold beliefs about how well others perform everyday memory tasks according to another's sex. For example, meta‐memory ratings indicate that other men and other women are believed to differ in their success at performing certain memory tasks (Crawford, Herrmann, Holdsworth, Randall & Robbins, 1989). In the present study, two experiments investigated whether gender stereotypes concerning everyday memory …
Does the heartbeat award scheme change employees' dietary attitudes and knowledge
Does the Heartbeat Award scheme in England result in change in dietary behaviour in the workplace?
The Heartbeat Award (HBA) scheme is a national nutrition labelling scheme that operates throughout England. The aim of this study was to assess whether the implementation of the HBA scheme in the workplace results in an improvement in eating habits at work. A longitudinal survey of employees using a structured questionnaire pre- and post-HBA intervention in six workplaces in Leicestershire, England, was conducted. A qualitative food frequency que…
Psycho-social influences on food choice in Southern France and Central England
Knowledge of dietary and behaviour-related determinants of non-communicable disease in urban Senegalese women
Findings suggest reasonable overall knowledge concerning diet and behaviour with NCD, especially given the relatively new context of the obesity epidemic in Senegal. However, there was poor knowledge of the benefit of eating fruit and vegetables and other preventable causes of certain cancers. Education targeting the benefits of vegetables and fruit may have the greatest impact on NCD prevention
Meal patterns and cooking practices in Southern France and Central England
Objective To evaluate whether meal patterns and cooking practices in Central England and Mediterranean France conform to popular stereotypes, eating together as a household, preparation of meals, food purchasing patterns, cooking practices and eating out were investigated. Design Cross-sectional studies conducted simultaneously in April 2001 using self-administered postal questionnaires. Setting England (Nottingham, East Midlands) and France (Mon…
Knowledge of dietary and behaviour-related determinants of non-communicable disease in urban Senegalese women
Objective To assess knowledge of dietary and behaviour-related determinants of non-communicable disease (NCD) of urban Senegalese women. Design A cross-sectional, population study using an interviewer-administered knowledge questionnaire, developed and validated for this study. The questionnaire consisted of 24 items with six scores measuring knowledge of: (1) diet- and behaviour-related causes of NCD; (2) diet quality–NCD relationship; (3) fruit…
Meal patterns and cooking practices in Southern France and Central England
Some of the study's findings confirm popular stereotypes of French and English food cultures, as the importance of the convivial aspects of eating, as well as more traditional practices such as cooking meals from basic ingredients, structured mealtimes and less between-meal snacking, remain more prominent within the French population. This may contribute to the differences in prevalence of obesity seen between the two countries
Tunisian Women's Perceptions of Desirable Body Size and Chronic Disease Risk
The purpose of this study was to assess attitudes towards body size of urban Tunisian women. Firstly, to determine body size satisfaction amongst women and investigate the body size that women associate with good health, high social status and individual desirability; and secondly, to study whether perception varies in different groups of society, to see if there is a difference of attitudes in younger women and those of higher socioeconomic stat…
Policy options for obesity in Europe
Objective To explore policy options that public health specialists (PHS) consider appropriate for combating obesity in Europe, and compare their preferences with those of other stakeholders (non-PHS). Design Structured interviews using multicriteria mapping, a computer-based, decision-support tool. Setting Nine European countries. Subjects A total of 189 stakeholders. Twenty-seven interviewees were PHS and non-PHS included food, sports and health…
Motivations of consumers that use local, organic fruit and vegetable box schemes in Central England and Southern France
The potential role of taxes and subsidies on food in the prevention of obesity in Europe
BACKGROUND: Obesity implies costs not only for the individual but also for society. The authors explore the opinions of stakeholders on the potential of taxes or subsidies, as measures for tackling obesity in Europe. METHODS: Structured interviews were conducted using Multicriteria Mapping, a computer-based, decision-support tool, with 189 interviewees drawn from 21 different stakeholder categories across nine members of the EU interviews, to app…
How does the obesogenic environment impact on climate change
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Rd Workshop – Communication – Keynote Speakers
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The dilemma of healthy eating and environmental sustainability
Objective Despite widespread concern over exploitation of the European Union's fish stocks, dietary guidelines in the UK continue to recommend two portions of fish per week. The present study sought to investigate whether health and/or sustainability are motivating factors when purchasing and consuming fish and whether there are sociodemographic trends. Design A structured, self-completion postal questionnaire exploring consumers’ attitudes towar…
Developing national obesity policy in middle-income countries
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is a rapidly growing threat to public health in both Morocco and Tunisia, where it is reaching similar proportions to high-income countries. Despite this, a national strategy for obesity does not exist in either country. The aim of this study was to explore the views of key stakeholders towards a range of policies to prevent obesity, and thus guide policy makers in their decision making on a na…
Perceptions of healthy weight of Malians and Moroccans living in different geographical environments Michelle Holdsworth
Objectives Perceptions of body size can influence whether obesity is seen as desirable and therefore whether a population is motivated to change. Few studies have investigated the effect of migration and living in different environments on preferences for body size. The present study examined body size preferences and satisfaction of adults living in urban and rural Morocco and Mali, as well as of migrants to France from these countries, to inves…
Deprivation, clubs and drugs
A large proportion of individuals report having used weight management strategies. Slimming clubs and over-the-counter weight loss medication account for a smaller proportion of the overall uptake. Those from less deprived areas were more likely to use slimming clubs while those from more deprived areas were more likely to use weight-loss medications. Future NHS and Local Authority commissioning of weight management services must be aware of this…
The relevance of the side-view in body image scales for public health
Variation in body shape assessed by several bio-anthropometrics related to health and nutritional status was larger for side than front body outlines. Integrating side views in body size scales would improve the accuracy of body size assessment and thus, the assessment of behaviours leading to overweight, as well as symptoms of body image disturbances, in Africa and potentially in other populations
Red and processed meat consumption and purchasing behaviours and attitudes
Objective Higher intakes of red and processed meat are associated with poorer health outcomes and negative environmental impacts. Drawing upon a population survey the present paper investigates meat consumption behaviours, exploring perceived impacts for human health, animal welfare and the environment. Design Structured self-completion postal survey relating to red and processed meat, capturing data on attitudes, sustainable meat purchasing beha…
A decade of nutrition research in Africa
Objective Malnutrition in Africa has not improved compared with other regions in the world. Investment in the build-up of a strong African research workforce is essential to provide contextual solutions to the nutritional problems of Africa. To orientate this process, we reviewed nutrition research carried out in Africa and published during the last decade. Design We assessed nutrition research from Africa published between 2000 and 2010 from MED…
Socio-economic and behavioural determinants of fruit and vegetable intake in Moroccan women
Objective To estimate daily fruit and vegetable intakes and to investigate socio-economic and behavioural differences in fruit and vegetable consumption among urban Moroccan women. Design A cross-sectional survey. Fruit and vegetable intake was measured with a single 24 h recall. Settings A representative population-based survey conducted in the area of Rabat-Salé. Subjects Women ( n 894) of child-bearing age (20–49 years). Results Mean fruit and…
Public health nutrition and sustainability
In public health nutrition, sustainability refers to the ability to maintain food system capacity to support the nutritional health needs of current and future populations while protecting the ecological systems that produce food. The FAO defines sustainable diets as those that are ‘protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and health…
Medicine (44 works) · Environmental health (39 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (31 works) · Geography (23 works) · Child Nutrition and Water Access (19 works) · Psychology (18 works) · Sociology (18 works) · Obesity (17 works) · Population (17 works) · Demography (14 works)