Women and Food

This discussion paper, Women's Health Issues Paper No. 8, explores various aspects of women’s health relating to food. These include the impacts of nutritional deficiency, the links between nutrition and chronic disease, women’s roles in relation to food, how a woman’s relationship with food affects her psychosocial health and the socio-economic factors that impact on access to nutritious food. Controversy exists in public health and health promotion about the approach and key messages that should be adopted in relation to food-related behaviours and body size to promote ‘health’ and prevent illness for women. It outlines various perspectives in this discourse and highlights some principles for managing health risks of public messages. It  was compiled by Bronwyn Upston from Womens' Health Victoria. (APO 9/10/12)