Mapping Research on School Nutrition and School Meals: A Bibliometric Analysis (2000–2025)

Abstract

This study aims to map the scientific literature the scientific literature published between 2000 and 2025 on school nutrition and school meals using bibliometric methods. A comprehensive search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database, and peer reviewed articles published in English between 2000 and 2025 were included in the study. After applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 797 articles were analysed. The analyses were conducted using the Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny software. The findings indicated a steady increase in publication output in the field, with a marked acceleration after 2019. Thematic analyses showed that the concepts of “school meals” and “nutrition” consistently maintained central positions, while themes such as “food insecurity,” “universal school meals,” “implementation,” and “childhood obesity” have become more prominent in recent years. The findings also demonstrated that early studies focused on dietary intake and meal composition, whereas over time the field has shifted toward a broader public health perspective encompassing nutritional quality in school settings, obesity prevention, and food insecurity. This bibliometric study indicates that school nutrition should be addressed as a public health intervention in the context of nutritional quality, childhood obesity, and food insecurity; additionally, it highlights the need to implement evidence-based approaches that focus on how school nutrition programs are implemented in practice and, consequently, to strengthen efforts to reduce the policy–practice gap, thereby enhancing program effectiveness.

Keywords

• Bibliometrics
• Nutrition policy
• Pediatric obesity
• Public health
• Schools
• School health services

Supporting Institution

The authors received no financial support for this study.

Ethical Statement

As this is a review article, ethical approval was not required.

Thanks

None.

Okul Beslenmesi ve Okul Yemekleri Araştırmalarının Haritalanması: Bibliyometrik Bir Analiz (2000–2025)

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, 2000–2025 yılları arasında okul beslenmesi ve okul yemekleri alanında yayımlanan bilimsel literatürü bibliyometrik yöntemler kullanarak haritalamaktır. Web of Science Core Collection veri tabanında kapsamlı bir tarama yürütülmüş ve bu kapsamda 2000–2025 yılları arasında yayımlanmış, hakemli ve İngilizce dilindeki makaleler çalışmaya dâhil edilmiştir. Önceden belirlenen dâhil etme ve dışlama kriterlerinin uygulanmasının ardından toplam 797 makale analiz edilmiştir. Analizlerde, Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny yazılımı kullanılmıştır. Bulgular, alanda istikrarlı bir yayın artışı olduğunu ve 2019 yılından sonra belirgin bir hızlanma yaşandığını göstermiştir. Tematik analizler, “okul yemekleri” ve “beslenme” kavramlarının sürekli olarak merkezî konumlarını koruduğunu; bununla birlikte “gıda güvencesizliği”, “evrensel okul yemekleri”, “uygulama” ve “çocukluk çağı obezitesi” temalarının ise son yıllarda daha belirgin hâle geldiğini ortaya koymuştur. Bulgular ayrıca, erken dönem çalışmaların besin alımı ve öğün içeriğine odaklandığını; zamanla okul ortamında beslenme kalitesi, obezite önleme ve gıda güvencesi konularını içeren daha geniş bir halk sağlığı perspektifine yönelim olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu bibliyometrik çalışma, okul beslenmesinin beslenme kalitesi, çocukluk çağı obezitesi ve gıda güvencesi bağlamında ele alınması gereken bir halk sağlığı müdahalesi olduğunu; aynı zamanda, okul beslenme programlarının etkinliğini artırmak için programların sahada nasıl yürütüldüğüne odaklanan kanıta dayalı yaklaşımların hayata geçirilmesi ve buna bağlı olarak politika-uygulama boşluğunu azaltmaya yönelik çabaların güçlendirilmesi gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Bibliyometri
• Beslenme politikası
• Pediatrik obezite
• Halk sağlığı
• Okullar
• Okul sağlık hizmetleri

Supporting Institution

Yazarlar bu çalışma için herhangi bir finansal destek almamıştır.

Ethical Statement

Bu bir derleme makalesi olduğundan etik kurul onayı gerekmemektedir.

Thanks

Bulunmamaktadır.

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