Helen Vidgen

Helen Vidgen is a Professor in Public Health at the School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Her research focuses on food literacy, childhood obesity prevention, and nutrition education, with significant contributions to public health policy and program implementation. She has led projects evaluating school meal programs, childhood obesity management services like PEACH™, and food literacy interventions across diverse populations.

Her work emphasizes socio-ecological barriers to nutrition education, policy development, and the translation of evidence-based practices into community settings. Dr. Vidgen has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and edited books, including Food Literacy: Key Concepts for Health and Education (2016), which establishes foundational frameworks for food literacy research. She collaborates with government agencies, non-profits, and healthcare professionals to address systemic challenges in obesity prevention and food system reforms.

Recent contributions include analyzing the role of school-provided meals in obesity prevention, evaluating father’s roles in family food practices, and advancing measurement tools like the IFLQ-19 food literacy questionnaire. Her research bridges theory and practice, informing policy initiatives on nutrition education, food regulation, and equitable health outcomes.