Charting Availability of Processed and Unprocessed Foods in School Neighbourhood Nutrition Environments in an Urban Australian Setting.

Holly Oaken,Lisa Vaughan,Nicola Fa’Avale,Robert S Ware,Lisa Schubert

doi:10.1155/2017/8397469

Holly Oaken, Lisa Vaughan + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/8397469

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Abstract

School Neighbourhood Nutrition Environments (SNNEs) can facilitate or impede healthy eating. This study describes the SNNEs surrounding 6 Good Start Program (GSP) schools in 5 suburbs in Logan, Queensland. Relative density of healthy and unhealthy food outlets was calculated for SNNEs surrounding GSP (6) and non-GSP (10) schools within the 5 suburbs. Relative accessibility of minimally processed and highly processed food and drink in SNNEs of the 6 GSP schools was determined using shelf measurements of snack foods. Unhealthy outlets greatly outnumber healthy outlets (mean relative density 15.6%, median 19.1%). The majority of outlets stock predominantly highly processed food and drink. Study areas are dominated by unhealthy food outlets and highly processed food.

Highlights

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been increasing for both adults and children, representing a significant public health issue
Logan City has one of the highest concentrations of Maori and Pacific Island (MPI) populations of anywhere in Australia with 25% of migrants arriving in the five years prior to 2003 [36]
Logan City has some of the highest areas of relative socioeconomic deprivation in Australia, as measured by Socioeconomic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) [37]

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been increasing for both adults and children, representing a significant public health issue. There are a range of factors contributing to the increasing rates with poor diet being a major contributing factor. The Australian National Survey (2011-12) has shown that the majority of Australians do not meet the minimum recommended serves for the five major food groups. Less than 1% are estimated to meet their recommended number of serves of vegetables and legumes/beans on a usual basis [1]. A further finding of the survey was that “over one-third of the population’s total daily energy intake came from energy-dense, nutrient-poor ‘discretionary foods’ (such as sweetened beverages, alcohol, cakes, confectionary, and pastry products)”. Surveys show that a quarter of school-aged Australian children consume fast food at least once per week, rising to 43% during adolescence [2]

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