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Food environments of young people: linking individual behaviour to environmental context

Tyrrell, R.; Greenhalgh, F.; Hodgson, S.; Wills, W.; Mathers, J.; Adamson, A.; Lake, A.

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Authors

R. Tyrrell

F. Greenhalgh

S. Hodgson

W. Wills

J. Mathers

A. Adamson

A. Lake



Abstract

Background We aimed to identify and characterize the food environments from which young people obtain food and to explore associations between the type of food environment and food intakes. Methods Young people (n = 86, mean age 17 years; combined data of two sequential pilot studies (collected in 2008–09) and a study conducted in 2011–12) recorded in 4-day self-complete food diaries what food they consumed and where food was sourced. Nutrient, fruit and vegetable intake was calculated according to the source of food, categorized using a food environment classification tool. Results Over 4 days, respondents sourced food from an average of 4.3 different food environments. Home food was used daily and was more favourable in terms of nutrient profile than out-of-home food. Food sourced from specialist outlets, convenience stores and retail bakers had the highest energy density. Food from retail bakers and ‘takeaway and fast food’ outlets were the richest sources of fat while vending machines and convenience stores had the highest percentage of energy from sugar. Conclusions This work provides details of ‘where’ young people obtain food and the nutritional consequences of choosing those food environments. While home food was a significant contributor to total dietary intake, food was obtained from a broad range of environments; particularly takeaway, fast food and education establishments.

Citation

Tyrrell, R., Greenhalgh, F., Hodgson, S., Wills, W., Mathers, J., Adamson, A., & Lake, A. (2017). Food environments of young people: linking individual behaviour to environmental context. Journal of Public Health, 39(1), 95-104. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdw019

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Mar 8, 2016
Publication Date Mar 1, 2017
Deposit Date Mar 10, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Public Health
Print ISSN 1741-3842
Electronic ISSN 1741-3850
Publisher Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 39
Issue 1
Pages 95-104
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdw019

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Copyright Statement
This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Public Health following peer review. The version of record Tyrrell, R.,Greenhalgh, F., Hodgson, S., Wills, W., Mathers, J., Adamson, A. and Lake, A. (2017) 'Food environments of young people : linking individual behaviour to environmental context.', Journal of public health, 39(1): 95-104 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdw019.




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