International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 1 author, 1 centre
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This qualitative study used sense-making methodology to analyze why the Dietary Guidelines for Americans have failed to drive dietary change, finding that communication is often outcompeted by other influences and lacks a systems-thinking approach.
The study employed Dervin's sense-making methodology as a theoretical framework to investigate the communication failures of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Thirteen semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with individual consumers and experts (government, dietitians, communicators, school-lunch administrators) across various demographic backgrounds. The research aimed to understand how DGA is known and understood, revealing that key figures like mothers and coaches, rather than the DGA, dominate nutritional upbringing. Industry interviews highlighted how competing systems and a focus on narrow details undermine broader efforts. Limitations include a small, purposive sample of 13 participants that skewed female and was not representative, though the study notes qualitative saturation can be reached with 9–17 participants. The implications suggest that public health messages need sustained, brand-building campaigns rather than one-shot efforts to support behavioral change.
