The Development, Delivery, Content, and Impact of Nutrition Education in Prisons: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

People in prison are at an increased risk of long-term conditions that have been associated with poor nutrition intake, low levels of physical activity, and obesity. We aim to identify the necessary components of nutrition education to impact the health and health behaviors of people in prison. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines informed the structure of this article. Our protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022353925). Electronic databases were searched for relevant studies published in the English language from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2023. Data were extracted and narrative synthesis completed. The search identified 394 studies, of which 10 studies included nutrition education delivered to and with people in prison. In most cases, nutrition was one element of a complex intervention, with the inclusion of physical activity and/or a focus on health. The outcomes measured varied considerably across studies; therefore, our narrative synthesis explored the (1) development and delivery, (2) content, and (3) impact of nutrition education delivered for people in prison. There remains a need for nutrition education for people in prison, developed through coproduction, that encompasses their individual needs, with quantifiable outcome measures through validated tools and/or physiological measures.