The food environment Flashcards

1
Q

Why do people eat what they eat?

A

Food choices are influenced by a variety of factors including environmental, cognitive, and behavioral influences, such as portion size norms, marketing, socioeconomic status, and food availability.

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2
Q

How does Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Model (1977) relate to food choices?

A

This model suggests that food choices are influenced by multiple environmental layers (e.g., family, peers, society) and that changes in one system (e.g., family or community) can affect an individual’s food intake.

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3
Q

How have technological advancements changed food options and eating habits?

A

Technology has influenced food habits through the rise of food delivery apps and online ordering, which can impact habitual physical activity, food choices, and meal delivery patterns (e.g., from restaurant pickup to phone orders and home delivery).

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4
Q

What did Jia et al. (2024) find about online food ordering during the pandemic?

A

A global systematic review revealed that meal delivery apps were associated with increased obesity, emotional eating, weight gain, and unhealthy food choices, such as lower vegetable intake and higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.

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5
Q

What did Revoredo-Giha et al. (2022) find about online food shopping in the UK?

A

Expenditure on processed products surpassed that of fresh products, highlighting a trend toward buying less healthy foods online.

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6
Q

What was found about low-income households and online food purchases in the USA (Trude et al., 2022)?

A

Low-income households tended to buy fewer fresh fruits and vegetables online compared to in-store purchases, which may be linked to affordability and access issues.

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7
Q

What did Lagisetty et al. (2017) report about virtual supermarkets in the USA?

A

Although virtual supermarkets led to increased purchases of healthier products, a significant portion of participants also reported buying more sugary beverages and juices.

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8
Q

What is a “food desert”?

A

A geographical area where residents lack access to healthy, affordable food, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, often due to the absence of grocery stores in the area (USDA, 2009).

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9
Q

What is a “food swamp”?

A

A region where access to unhealthy, fast food (e.g., fried chicken, burgers) is greater than access to nutritious options, often leading to higher consumption of unhealthy snacks and desserts.

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10
Q

Q: How do food deserts and food swamps impact eating behaviors?

A

Food deserts: Reduced access to healthy foods, often leading to lower fruit and vegetable consumption.
Food swamps: Greater availability of unhealthy foods, leading to higher intake of snacks and desserts.

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11
Q

What did Hager et al. (2016) find about food deserts/swamps and BMI?

A

Girls living in food deserts or swamps were more likely to have lower BMI-for-age scores (indicating obesity) and consumed more unhealthy snacks and desserts compared to those in areas with better food access.

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12
Q

How does socioeconomic status (SES) influence food choice?

A

Low SES can limit food spending power, access to transportation, and availability of healthy food options (e.g., food deserts and swamps), leading to poorer dietary choices and higher exposure to unhealthy food environments.

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13
Q

What did McCarthy, de Vries, and Mackenbach (2022) report on food marketing?

A

Marketing of unhealthy foods through social media and advergaming significantly influences children’s food choices, promoting unhealthy foods and beverages despite their unhealthiness.

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14
Q

What are some government actions to mitigate unhealthy food marketing?

A

2009: Restrictions on ads for children under 16.
2016: Sugar tax on soft drinks to reduce sugar consumption.
2022: Laws requiring calorie displays on menus for large businesses and restrictions on junk food ads before 9pm.

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15
Q

What are ultra-processed foods (UPFs)?

A

Ultra-processed foods are mass-produced items that contain artificial additives, preservatives, and ingredients not found in a typical household kitchen. Examples include soft drinks, snacks, and sugary cereals.

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16
Q

What are the potential health risks of ultra-processed foods (UPFs)?

A

UPFs are associated with overconsumption, increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and other health problems due to their high levels of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.

17
Q

What is the NOVA food classification system based on?

A

The NOVA system classifies foods based on how much they have been processed during production, not their nutrient profile.

18
Q

What are the 4 categories of the NOVA food classification system?

A

Unprocessed or minimally processed foods
Processed culinary ingredients
Processed foods
Ultra-processed foods

19
Q

What is the general trend in food processing developments over the past 50 years?

A

Some processing can benefit health (e.g., increased safety, shelf life)
Some ultra-processing attributes (e.g., emulsifiers, non-caloric sweeteners) are linked to ill-health
Mechanisms in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) lead to over-consumption and increase risks for obesity and cardiovascular disease.

20
Q

Why are individuals with low socioeconomic position (SEP) more exposed to unhealthy food environments?

A

They face greater exposure to unhealthy food marketing and live in built environments that promote poor dietary choices.

21
Q

What association did NOVA 3 (processed foods) have with breast cancer risk?

A

Processed foods were associated with increased breast cancer risk, but only when alcohol consumption was not controlled for.

22
Q

When might ultra-processed foods be beneficial?

A

As a sustainable food source
For addressing food insecurity
In special diets (e.g., fortification for the elderly, allergen-free foods)
Potential for creating healthy foods in the future

23
Q
A