title: Using political science to progress public health nutrition: a systematic review.
abstract: Poor dietary intake is the most important behavioural risk factor affecting health globally. Despite this, there has been little investment in public health nutrition policy actions. Policy process theories from the field of political science can aid understanding why policy decisions have occurred and identify how to influence ongoing or future initiatives. The present review aims to examine public health nutrition policy literature and identify whether a policy process theory has been used to analyse the process.
  
  
  
  Electronic databases were searched systematically for studies examining policy making in public health nutrition in high-income, democratic countries.
  
  
  
  International, national, state and local government jurisdictions within high-income, democratic countries.
  
  
  
  Individuals and organisations involved in the nutrition policy-making process.
  
  
  
  Sixty-three studies met the eligibility criteria, most were conducted in the USA and a majority focused on obesity. The analysis demonstrates an accelerating trend in the number of nutrition policy papers published annually and an increase in the diversity of nutrition topics examined. The use of policy process theory was observed from 2003; however, it was utilised by only 14 % of the reviewed papers.
  
  
  
  There is limited research into the nutrition policy process in high-income countries. While there has been a small increase in the use of policy process theory from 2003, an opportunity to expand its use is evident. We suggest that nutrition policy making would benefit from a pragmatic approach that ensures those trying to influence or understand the policy-making process are equipped with basic knowledge around these theories.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences,Queensland University of Technology,Victoria Park Road,Kelvin Grove,QLD 4059,Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cullerton
authors.affiliation: 2School of Management,Queensland University of Technology,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2971-6814
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Donnet
authors.affiliation: 3School of Public Health and Social Work,Queensland University of Technology,Kelvin Grove,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences,Queensland University of Technology,Victoria Park Road,Kelvin Grove,QLD 4059,Australia.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallegos
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011050:Policy Making; D011057:Politics; D011634:Public Health
keywords: Advocacy; Nutrition policy; Political theory