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Peer-reviewedCC BYCurrent obesity reports

The Public Health Implications of Online Food Delivery Platforms: A Narrative Review.

  • Adyya Gupta1,2
  • Rebecca Bennett3
  • Anna Peeters3,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Deakin Centre for Global Preventive Health and Nutrition, Deakin Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. [email protected].
  2. 2Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia. [email protected].
  3. 3Deakin Centre for Global Preventive Health and Nutrition, Deakin Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
  4. 4Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, VIC, Australia.
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Abstract

Purpose of review

This review summarises current knowledge on the role of online food delivery (OFD) platforms in shaping dietary behaviours, sedentary behaviours and other related health outcomes.Recent findings

OFD platforms predominantly promote and facilitate access to energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Drivers such as convenience, time scarcity, and algorithmic personalisation reinforce unhealthy eating patterns by making less healthy options more visible and accessible. Evidence concerning sedentary behaviour remains sparse. A small number of studies suggest that OFD use may be displacing traditional food procurement behaviours resulting in reduced physical activity. OFD platforms further influence health through environmental, labour, and corporate activities. Despite their growing influence, OFD platforms remain largely unregulated within existing policy frameworks. There is an urgent need for interdisciplinary research, improved methodological rigour, regulatory change, and industry accountability to mitigate the health risks associated with OFD platforms and harness their potential for promoting healthier diets and related health behaviours.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{gupta2026public,
  title = {{The Public Health Implications of Online Food Delivery Platforms: A Narrative Review.}},
  author = {Adyya Gupta and Rebecca Bennett and Anna Peeters},
  journal = {Current obesity reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1007/s13679-026-00771-y},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42957823},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The Public Health Implications of Online Food Delivery Platforms: A Narrative Review.
AU  - Adyya Gupta
AU  - Rebecca Bennett
AU  - Anna Peeters
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/30
JO  - Current obesity reports
DO  - 10.1007/s13679-026-00771-y
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42957823
AB  - Purpose of review  This review summarises current knowledge on the role of online food delivery (OFD) platforms in shaping dietary behaviours, sedentary behaviours and other related health outcomes.Recent findings  OFD platforms predominantly promote and facilitate access to energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Drivers such as convenience, time scarcity, and algorithmic personalisation reinforce unhealthy eating patterns by making less healthy options more visible and accessible. Evidence concerning sedentary behaviour remains sparse. A small number of studies suggest that OFD use may be displacing traditional food procurement behaviours resulting in reduced physical activity. OFD platforms further influence health through environmental, labour, and corporate activities. Despite their growing influence, OFD platforms remain largely unregulated within existing policy frameworks. There is an urgent need for interdisciplinary research, improved methodological rigour, regulatory change, and industry accountability to mitigate the health risks associated with OFD platforms and harness their potential for promoting healthier diets and related health behaviours.
SN  - 2162-4968
ER  -