'Obesogenic' School Food Environments? An Urban Case Study in The Netherlands

Overview

Journal Int J Environ Res Public Health

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2018 Mar 31

PMID 29597308

Citations 23

Authors

Joris Timmermans

Coosje Dijkstra

Carlijn Kamphuis

Marlijn Huitink

Egbert van der Zee

Maartje Poelman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

(1) Background: This study aimed to explore and define socio-economic (SES) differences in urban school food environments in The Netherlands. (2) Methods: Retail food outlets, ready-to-eat products, in-store food promotions and food advertisements in public space were determined within 400 m walking distance of all secondary schools in the 4th largest city of The Netherlands. Fisher's exact tests were conducted. (3) Results: In total, 115 retail outlets sold ready-to-eat food and drink products during school hours. Fast food outlets were more often in the vicinity of schools in lower SES (28.6%) than in higher SES areas (11.5%). In general, unhealthy options (e.g., fried snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB)) were more often for sale, in-store promoted or advertised in comparison with healthy options (e.g., fruit, vegetables, bottled water). Sport/energy drinks were more often for sale, and fried snacks/fries, hamburgers/kebab and SSB were more often promoted or advertised in lower SES areas than in higher SES-areas. (4) Conclusion: In general, unhealthy food options were more often presented than the healthy options, but only a few SES differences were observed. The results, however, imply that efforts in all school areas are needed to make the healthy option the default option during school time.

Citing Articles

The Healthy Supermarket Coach: effects of a nutrition peer-education intervention in Dutch supermarkets on adolescents' food purchases.

Huitink M, Poelman M, Seidell J, Twisk J, Dijkstra S BMC Med. 2025; 23(1):14.

PMID: 39789581 PMC: 11714951. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03828-8.

Time-varying exposure to food retailers and cardiovascular disease hospitalization and mortality in the netherlands: a nationwide prospective cohort study.

Pinho M, Koop Y, Mackenbach J, Lakerveld J, Simoes M, Vermeulen R BMC Med. 2024; 22(1):427.

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A spatial examination of alcohol availability and the level of disadvantage of schools in Ireland.

Doyle A, Foley R, Houghton F BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):795.

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Scanning for Obesogenicity of Primary School Environments in Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa.

Phetla M, Skaal L Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(19).

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Adolescents' food intake changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: The moderating role of pre-pandemic susceptibility, COVID-19 related stressors, and the social food context.

van den Broek N, Larsen J, Verhagen M, Burk W, Vink J Eur J Dev Psychol. 2023; 20(4):616-634.

PMID: 37377464 PMC: 10292123. DOI: 10.1080/17405629.2022.2115999.

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