Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kyle R. Busse, Rasheca Logendran, Mercy Owuor, Hillary Omala, Erick Nandoya, Alice S. Ammerman, Stephanie L. Martin
Summary: This study characterizes the food environment of a densely-populated informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. The findings reveal a duality of obesogenic and anti-obesogenic foods in the environment, with clustering observed for obesogenic foods. This highlights the need for local officials to increase access to health-promoting foods in informal settlements.
JOURNAL OF URBAN HEALTH-BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Shazna M. Buksh, John B. F. de Wit, Phillipa Hay
Summary: This study provides a detailed exploration of the determinants of the obesity epidemic in Pacific Island countries, highlighting the significant role of sociocultural influences. The findings emphasize the importance of considering sociocultural factors in addressing unhealthy eating and overeating, and can assist decision-makers in developing context-specific obesity prevention strategies and health messaging.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jeffrey Allen
Summary: This study examined the indirect effects of obesity-related factors at the county-level on physical inactivity, insufficient sleep duration, income inequality, food insecurity, and obesity rates. The results showed that these factors explained 53% of the obesity rates in the US, with food insecurity having both direct and indirect effects on obesity, physical inactivity, and insufficient sleep duration.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Thao Minh Lam, Alfred J. J. Wagtendonk, Nicolette R. R. den Braver, Derek Karssenberg, Ilonca Vaartjes, Erik J. J. Timmermans, Joline W. J. Beulens, Jeroen Lakerveld
Summary: This study aimed to create a comprehensive index to quantify obesogenicity in all neighborhoods in the Netherlands, considering both food and physical activity environments. The resulting OBCT index revealed that obesogenicity was lower in more urbanized neighborhoods, except for extremely urbanized ones. The OBCT index showed moderate correlations with both the food and physical activity environments.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Kun Mei, Hong Huang, Fang Xia, Andy Hong, Xiang Chen, Chi Zhang, Ge Qiu, Gang Chen, Zhenfeng Wang, Chongjian Wang, Bo Yang, Qian Xiao, Peng Jia
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review on the associations between different levels of obesogenic environmental measures and childhood obesity, finding that most studies did not establish clear links. Some studies indicated negative relationships between healthy food outlets and childhood obesity, while positive associations were found between unhealthy food outlets and childhood obesity. Physical activity facilities were negatively correlated with childhood obesity in some studies as well.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Peng Jia
Summary: Past studies have focused on the influences of multidimensional environmental indicators on obesity, but there are limited reviews on the associations of basic environmental factors.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Hassan S. Dashti, Puri Gomez-Abellan, Jingyi Qian, Alberto Esteban, Eva Morales, Frank A. J. L. Scheer, Marta Garaulet
Summary: The study found that individuals who ate dinner late had higher BMI and triglyceride concentrations at baseline, as well as lower insulin sensitivity. Additionally, those who ate dinner late had a slower rate of weight loss and were more likely to encounter barriers to weight loss.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alexa Rae Ferdinands, Jennifer Ann Brown, Charlene C. Nielsen, Candace I. J. Nykiforuk, Kim D. Raine
Summary: This study aimed to expand the existing food environment measures by developing subcategories for healthy and less healthy food retailers and establish replicable coding processes. The results showed that the expanded categorization included more food retailers, but there were minimal changes in the traditional measure. However, the healthfulness of food environments surrounding schools significantly decreased. This study provides a more comprehensive assessment of the food environment to support local research, policy, and practice innovations.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Tiffany Wesley Ardoin, Elizabeth Perry, Chelsea Morgan, Jared Hymowitz, Donald Mercante
Summary: The study examines the impact of the GGHOLOL program on food insecurity and finds that it improves food security scores, healthy eating, cooking and shopping behaviors, as well as depression scores. These improvements are sustained even 6 months after enrollment.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
J. Y. Lee, S. Shen, C. Nishita
Summary: This study aims to quantify food insecurity among older adults at the local level by identifying 13 risk factors and using publicly available data. The results show that, beyond financial constraints, having a disability is the most impactful factor for food insecurity among older adults.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION HEALTH & AGING
(2022)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Amelia Huelskamp, Julia Waity, Jaime Russell
Summary: This study investigated food insecurity and coping behaviors among college students, finding that students with lower food security are more likely to engage in potentially obesogenic coping behaviors. Most respondents identified increased education and skill development as most helpful to improve their food situation.
JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Abigail Bennett, Emma Rice, Park Muhonda, Emmanuel Kaunda, Sam Katengeza, Lenis Saweda O. Liverpool-Tasie, Ben Belton, Dana M. Infante, Jared Ross, John Virdin, Edith Gondwe
Summary: Aquatic foods play a critical role in food and nutrition security in Malawi. A spatial analysis of food flows reveals that usipa reaches more consumers than chambo, especially in rural areas, due to factors such as higher number of markets, nutrient content, and overall supply, as well as lower retail prices and volumes.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Cindy Needham, Claudia Strugnell, Steven Allender, Laura Alston, Liliana Orellana
Summary: This study examines the association and temporal trends between the food environment and BMI of adults. The results show that BMI increases as accessibility to healthy outlets decreases. High access to supermarkets and unhealthy outlets are associated with lower BMI. The research highlights the importance of increasing access to diverse food outlets, particularly healthy ones, for promoting good health.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Helene Chevallier, Florent Herpin, Helene Kergosien, Gabrielle Ventura, Francois-Andre Allaert
Summary: The article discusses a three-tier model for evaluating plant health claims, as well as the possibility of making claims based on traditional recognition and scientific research on health effects.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jae-Jang Yang, Rajesh Iyer, Yong-Ki Lee
Summary: This study examines the impact of local foodscapes on trust and loyalty towards local stores and food. It identifies the mediating role of trust in the relationship between local foodscapes and loyalty. The findings suggest that price/value and eco-friendly environment dimensions influence trust in local stores, while tradition and eco-friendly environment affect local food consumption. Both local stores and food have an impact on loyalty among tourists.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
James D. Nobles, Duncan Radley, Oliver T. Mytton
Summary: Systems thinking is crucial for dealing with complex systems, and a systems approach is necessary for addressing the complex drivers of obesity. The Action Scales Model (ASM) helps identify and evaluate actions, with four levels providing potential for changing how the system functions.
PERSPECTIVES IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alex Christensen, Suzanne Bond, James McKenna
Summary: This rapid review examines the global impact of COVID-19 on adult physical activity, with a focus on specific intensities and types of activity, as well as differences by gender and age. The results show a decrease in all intensities and types of physical activity, including walking, moderate-only, vigorous-only, and overall physical activity. The findings suggest a universal need to address the low levels of physical activity post-COVID-19, with potential implications for public health officials and advocates of physical activity.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
M. Hobbs, T. L. Milfont, L. Marek, K. Yogeeswaran, C. G. Sibley
Summary: This study investigates the associations between the geospatial environment people live within and their health behaviors as well as their mental and physical health outcomes using a newly developed Healthy Location Index (HLI). Results show that close proximity to health-constraining environmental features is related to a number of self-reported physical and mental health outcomes or behaviors, providing evidence for the need for preventive population-health interventions.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
K. Clare, A. Ojo, J. Teke, M. Willis, G. Akhtar, B. Clegg, C. Goddard, C. Freeman, K. J. Drew, D. Radley, C. Homer, L. Ells
PERSPECTIVES IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Tamla S. Evans, Rhiannon E. Hawkes, Chris Keyworth, Lisa Newson, Duncan Radley, Andrew J. Hill, Jamie Matu, Louisa J. Ells
Summary: This study investigated the implementation of the National Health Service Low-Calorie Diet Programme in the UK, aiming to evaluate the application of behavior change theory in program design. The results showed variations among service providers in theory use, with only some intervention techniques explicitly linked to theory. It is recommended that explicit theory use becomes a requirement in future NHS commissioning processes.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF DIABETES
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Tim Chambers, Matt Hobbs, Jonathan M. Broadbent
Summary: This study investigated whether drinking water suppliers in New Zealand are meeting the CWF targets and found that noncompliance with the targets is common, which may underestimate the oral health benefits of CWF. It also highlighted challenges in expanding CWF under new legislation and weaknesses in drinking water surveillance.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
A. Christensen, D. Radley, M. Hobbs, C. Gorse, C. Griffiths
Summary: This study compares researcher-defined buffers and self-drawn neighborhoods to objectively measured availability of physical activity facilities and greenspaces in adolescents, and highlights their inadequacy in defining availability to environmental features.
SPATIAL AND SPATIO-TEMPORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Tamla S. Evans, Pooja Dhir, Duncan Radley, Cristiana Duarte, Chris Keyworth, Catherine Homer, Andy J. Hill, Rhiannon Hawkes, Jamie Matu, James McKenna, Louisa J. Ells
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alex Christensen, Claire Griffiths, Matthew Hobbs, Chris Gorse, Duncan Radley
Summary: This exploratory study compares researcher-defined and self-drawn buffers in reflecting adolescent physical activity and sedentary behavior. The study found that researcher-defined buffer size is inadequate in assessing physical activity and sedentary space. It also found that adolescents often do not use physical activity facilities and greenspaces nearest to their home and school, and a large proportion of physical activity occurs outside of these environments.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Joanne Jia Min Lee, Philip J. J. Schluter, Matthew Hodgett, Bingyu Deng, Matthew Hobbs
Summary: This study examined the factors associated with utilization of the publicly funded Adolescent Oral Health Services (AOHS) in Canterbury, New Zealand. It found that Maori, Pasifika, and adolescents living in rural and deprived areas had a higher risk of non-utilization of dental services. The findings suggest the need for collaboration with Maori and Pasifika communities to provide culturally appropriate oral health services.
COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Development Studies
L. Marek, S. Hills, J. Wiki, M. Campbell, M. Hobbs
Summary: This nationwide geospatial study from Aotearoa New Zealand examines the frequency and spatial distribution of residential mobility and its relationship with the environment. Using data from the Integrated Data Infrastructure, levels of residential mobility were defined from 2016 to 2020. The study identifies spatial clusters and five groups based on residential mobility characteristics, and explores their relation to the Healthy Location Index, urbanicity, and ethnicity. Areas with high residential mobility are associated with better access to health-promoting environments.
HABITAT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
C. Griffiths, D. Radley, P. Gately, J. South, G. Sanders, M. A. Morris, K. Clare, A. Martin, A. Heppenstall, M. McCann, J. Rodgers, J. Nobles, A. Coggins, N. Cooper, C. Cooke, M. S. Gilthorpe, L. Ells
PERSPECTIVES IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
G. J. Sanders, C. Griffiths, S. Flint, A. Christensen, P. Gately
Summary: The study evaluated implementation fidelity of an Integrated Healthy Lifestyle Service through individual interviews and focus groups, finding mixed levels of fidelity across various domains. Stakeholders, staff, and clients noted high intervention receipt, but practitioners lacked formal training and personal development opportunities, leading to low confidence in delivering sessions and analyzing data. Top-down information dissemination within the service affected motivation and team morale. Results can be used to strengthen the design, delivery, and recruitment strategies of the IHLS.
PERSPECTIVES IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
