Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39783012›Full record

SynthesisPublic health nutrition2025

Healthy eating interventions conducted in small, local restaurants and hot food takeaways: a systematic review.

Cinja Jostock, Hannah Forde, Nia Roberts, Susan A Jebb, Rachel Pechey, Lauren Bandy

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Public health nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Cinja JostockNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Hannah FordeNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Nia RobertsBodleian Health Care Libraries, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Susan A JebbNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Rachel PecheyNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Lauren BandyNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Funding

Department of Health NIHR200172Wellcome Trust 222566
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis systematic review investigates the characteristics, effectiveness and acceptability of interventions to encourage healthier eating in small, independent restaurants and takeaways.

designWe searched five databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index) in June 2022. Eligible studies had to measure changes in sales, availability, nutritional quality, portion sizes or dietary intake of interventions targeting customer behaviour or restaurant environments. We evaluated study quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results are synthesised narratively, and interventions' impact on personal autonomy is assessed using the Nuffield intervention ladder.

settingSmall, independent or local restaurants or hot food takeaway outlets, with no restrictions by year or country.

participantsAnyone selling or purchasing food in intervention settings (e.g. restaurant staff/owners, customers).

resultsWe screened 4624 records and included 12 studies describing 13 interventions in 351 businesses. Most studies were of poor quality. Customer-level intervention components mostly operated on the lower rungs of the Nuffield ladder, and most had limited positive effects on increasing demand, measured as sales or orders of healthy options. Whilst rare, most interventions measuring business outcomes operated on higher ladder rungs and showed small positive results. There was insufficient evidence to investigate differences in impact by intervention intrusiveness. Acceptability was greater for interventions that were low-effort, inexpensive and perceived as not negatively impacting on customer satisfaction.

conclusionsDespite some evidence of small positive effects of healthy eating interventions on healthier purchases or restaurant/hot food takeaway practices, a weak evidence base hinders robust inference.

Indexed as

Diet, HealthyFast FoodsHealth PromotionRestaurantsConsumer BehaviorHumansFood environmentFood purchasingHealthy eating interventionsHot food takeawaysRestaurantsSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID39783012
PMCPMC11822606

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.