Health Promotion Values Underlying Healthy Eating Strategies in The Netherlands

Healthy eating strategies are a large focus of research, practice, and policy in the Netherlands to improve the diets of socioeconomically disadvantaged populations (SDPs) and reduce health inequalities. However, the fundamental values of the health professionals that develop, implement, and evaluate healthy eating strategies are not explicit. Understanding and challenging these values may be an important step in aligning and improving efforts to support healthy diets in SDPs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to critically examine the values influencing strategies to promote healthy eating in SDPs in the Netherlands. In-depth interviews guided by a critical health promotion model were conducted with a diverse group of health professionals (n = 29) between October 2020 and January 2021 and analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. Results indicated that health professionals’ values overlapped in many ways, including their shared values concerning beneficence, responsibility, and collaboration. However, value conflicts were also uncovered surrounding assumptions about SDPs and ethical change processes. The co-existence of conventional and holistic health promotion values also reflected an enduring emphasis on individual-level healthy eating strategies. It is concluded that ongoing attention to the values of health professionals is needed to advance healthy eating strategies and reduce diet-related health inequalities.