enhancing food security and physical activity for maori, pacific and ...

Enhancing Food Security and Physical Activity for Māori, Pacific and Low-income PeoplesChapter 8:Discussion and recommendationsMat Walton, Louise Signal, Sharron Bowers, Kristie Carter, DelvinaGorton, Craig Heta, Tolotea Lanumata, Ralph Maddison, ChristinaMcKerchar, Cliona Ni Mhurchu, Des O’Dea, and Jamie Pearce.8.1 Overall discussion for ENHANCEThis research project, ENHANCE, began two years ago to clarify the contribution andinteraction of various environmental factors to food security and physical activity forMāori, Pacific and low-income families/whānau; and to identify how these factors mightbe modified to improve food security and physical activity. This multi-phase researchdrew its findings from a range of methods, including two initial literature reviews; focusgroup research with Māori, Pacific and low-income people; seven workshops with keystakeholders; and 16 further literature reviews or literature scans and a series of keyinformant interviews. Findings were triangulated using theoretical frameworks in order toidentify factors with most influence on food security and physical activity for Māori,Pacific and low-income people and to highlight those that should be targeted forintervention.Results suggest that key areas to intervene to enhance food security for Māori, Pacificand low-income families relate principally to availability of money within households; thecost of food; and food purchasing factors (the control parameters in the food securitysystem). In relation to enhancing physical activity, important areas for intervention relateto improvements to urban design, and development of culturally-specific physical activityprogrammes (the control parameters in the physical activity system). A total of16 potential interventions relating to these five principal areas were identified and arepresented in detail in this report. While each intervention was reviewed individually,collectively they form a multi-component ‘portfolio’ of interventions to enhance foodsecurity and physical activity for Māori, Pacific and low-income people.In this final chapter the overall findings of the ENHANCE research are summarised andconclusions, and recommendations for action are brought together from across thecomponent chapters in the book. This discussion considers how interventions mayinteract, and through the interaction, identify timing or prioritisation of interventions tomaximise impact on physical activity and food security outcomes. Given the necessaryspecificity of the research focus, this is not an exhaustive portfolio; however, it is one thatattempts to address the places to intervene for greatest effectiveness (controlparameters) in the system in ways that best meet key policy criteria of feasibility,sustainability, effects on equity, potential side-effects, acceptability to stakeholders 1 andcost-benefit.204