Participatory Experience of Local Policy Making to Transform Food Environments: The Case of Two Municipalities in Santiago, Chile, 2023

Abstract

Several studies indicate that characteristics of food environments affect eating behavior. The transformation of food environments depends on their regulation, and participatory bodies can provide greater relevance and legitimacy to these regulations. This article presents the results of the final phase of the study “Assessing food environments at home: a contribution to local policies.” Local stakeholders in two Chilean communes constructed the recommendations; inputs for the construction of the proposals come from previous phases, (1) adaptation and validation of the Perceived Nutritional Environment Measurement Survey (NEMS-P-Ch) and (2) application of NEMS-P-Ch in households in high and low socioeconomic sectors, and comparison of results. After conducting two workshops and two discussions, a matrix of public policy recommendations was constructed to improve food environments. The results show that the population is aware of the issue, that they are clear about the solutions to the problems that affect them, and that what was proposed requires political will on the part of both local and national authorities. There is a clear need to transform food environments from the regulatory, normative, programmatic, and legislative point of view, as well as to strengthen people's capacities and skills to manage their health.