In the realm of public health, where dietary guidelines are often seen as dry and unengaging, a group of young people in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, have taken a bold and innovative approach. They have not only developed their own set of guidelines for healthy eating but have also launched a social media campaign to promote them, achieving over 1.48 million impressions and more than 19,000 engagement actions. This is not just a story of a successful campaign; it's a testament to the power of co-design and the importance of involving young people in shaping the health messages that resonate with them. Personally, I think this approach is a game-changer, and it raises a deeper question: why aren't more public health initiatives taking this kind of collaborative, youth-driven approach? What makes this particularly fascinating is the process of co-design, where the young people, or rangatahi, provided their input and experiences with the support of experts who brought the scientific knowledge. This approach not only ensures that the guidelines are relevant and meaningful to the target group but also empowers the young people to take ownership of their health. In my opinion, this is a model that should be replicated in other settings, especially when it comes to creating guidelines that are both educational and policy-driven. One thing that immediately stands out is the impact of the social media campaign. With a total cost of NZ$125,000, the campaign achieved a remarkable number of impressions and engagement actions, demonstrating the power of digital platforms in disseminating health messages. However, what many people don't realize is that this success was not just a result of the campaign's reach but also of the young people's deep understanding of their peer group. The rangatahi were able to guide the researchers on how to share the information, how it would look, and which Māori influencers to work with, ensuring that the guidelines resonated with their target audience. This raises a deeper question: how can we better leverage the insights and experiences of young people in public health initiatives? From my perspective, the key to success lies in the co-design process. By involving young people in the development of guidelines and campaigns, we can create messages that are not only effective but also meaningful and engaging. This approach not only addresses the immediate need for healthy eating guidelines but also contributes to a broader trend of youth-driven public health initiatives. A detail that I find especially interesting is the influence of the Mexican guidelines on the Manaora Rangatahi Guidelines for Eating and Wellbeing. The rangatahi were taken with the Mexican guidelines' invitational approach, which suggests that there is a desire for guidelines that are more engaging and interactive. This raises a deeper question: how can we create guidelines that are not just informative but also inspiring and empowering? What this really suggests is that the future of public health messaging lies in the hands of the young people. As they continue to shape the guidelines and campaigns that resonate with them, we can expect to see more innovative and effective approaches to promoting healthy eating and wellbeing. In conclusion, the young people of Hawke's Bay have shown us the power of co-design and the importance of involving young people in public health initiatives. Their success is a testament to the potential of youth-driven approaches, and it raises a deeper question: how can we create a world where young people are not just the target of health messages but also the driving force behind them?
