Abstract / Description
ContextThis review is intended to fill gaps in reported literature reviews on food choices by performing a comprehensive overview of the similarities and differences in the drivers of more and less healthy food choices reported in published reviews.ObjectiveWe sought to examine similarities and differences in drivers of healthier vs less healthy food choices in the reported literature on food choices.Data sourcesSearches were conducted in the Ovid (APA PsycINFO, Embase, MEDLINE), Econlit, and Scopus databases. A systematic review of reviews was undertaken according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.Data extractionReviews with samples of adults from high-income countries were eligible. Included reviews were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist for systematic reviews, and the results were synthesized narratively. Original searches yielded 4887 results from which 102 full-text articles were screened. Updated searches in March 2024 led to a total of 59 included reviews.Data analysisSynthesized findings from included reviews were grouped into overarching categories of drivers and described narratively. Drivers of both less healthy and healthier food choices were income, availability, accessibility, social norms, health status, and the food environment. In contrast, some factors were reported primarily in relation to healthier or less healthy food. Being health conscious and motivated, having nutrition knowledge, and female gender were reported in relation to choices of healthier foods whereas price and/or affordability, stress, lack of time, and need for convenience were reported as drivers of choices of less healthy foods. The most common concern identified from the CASP checklist was a lack of quality appraisal among reviews.ConclusionsIn this review we identified differences between drivers of food choice for healthier and less healthy food, indicating a possibility for policy interventions to target inappropriate drivers if this difference is not recognized. Rather, interventions targeting increasing healthier (or decreasing less healthy) food consumption may be more effective when targeting those relevant drivers.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO registration No. CRD42022363956.