Psychological pathways to healthy and sustainable diets: bringing theory and clinical practice
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Unsustainable eating behaviors have a significant impact at both the environmental and the individual levels, rendering the promotion of sustainable diets a major challenge for contemporary societies. In line with this, the OnFoods project – to which this dissertation contributes – aimed at improving food and nutrition systems within an interdisciplinary perspective. The dissertation investigated the role of psychological determinants of sustainable eating, both within the general population and in the context of obesity treatment, through three interconnected studies. Study 1 systematically reviewed the psychological theoretical frameworks applied to healthy and sustainable food choices. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) emerged as the most widely employed framework, demonstrating generally promising predictive validity with respect to eating-related intentions, while also revealing the need for more integrative models. Study 2 examined a novel integrative model, the Theory of Behavioral Choice (TBC), within a cross-sectional study of the general population. The TBC was compared with the TPB in predicting sustainable eating intentions and behaviors, and further included psychological distress, dysfunctional eating styles, and psychological well-being as moderators of the intention–behavior relationship. Compared to the TPB, the integrative model exhibited superior fit, with emotional and social factors emerging as key predictors of intention, and behavioral and cognitive mechanisms playing a central role in the translation of intentions into behaviors. Study 3 evaluated a group-based multidisciplinary intervention integrating Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Well-Being Therapy with Sustainable and Healthy Eating Education, compared with Healthy Eating Education alone, in patients with obesity. Weight-loss, sustainable eating behaviors, and psychological functioning were assessed post-treatment and at 1- and 3-month follow-ups. The multidisciplinary intervention proved more effective in promoting sustainable eating behaviors, while both interventions yielded clinically meaningful improvements in weight loss and psychological functioning. Overall, this work underscores the contribution of clinical psychology to the
Author: Lo Dato, Elena
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225505740