The demand for convenience and the increasing role of digital technology in everyday life has fueled the use of online food delivery services (OFD’s), of which young people are the largest users globally. OFD’s are disrupting traditional food environments, yet research evaluating the public health implications of such services is lacking. We evaluated the characteristics and nutritional quality of popular food outlets on a market-leading platform (UberEATS®) in a cross-sectional observational study conducted in two international cities: Sydney (Australia) and Auckland (New Zealand). A systematic search using publicly available population-level data was used to identify geographical areas with above-average concentrations (>30%) of young people (15–34-years). A standardized data extraction protocol was used to identify the ten most popular food outlets within each area. The nutritional quality of food outlets was assessed using the Food Environment Score (FES) (range: −10 ‘unhealthiest’ to 10 ‘healthiest’). Additionally, the most popular menu items from each food outlet were classified as discretionary or core foods/beverages according to the Australian Dietary Guidelines. The majority of popular food outlets were classified as ‘unhealthy’ (FES range −10 to −5; 73.5%, 789/1074) and were predominately takeaway franchise stores (59.6%, 470/789, e.g., McDonald’s®). 85.9% of all popular menu items were discretionary (n = 4958/5769). This study highlights the pervasion and accessibility of discretionary foods on OFD’s. This study demonstrated that the most popular food outlets on the market-leading online food delivery service are unhealthy and popular menu items are mostly discretionary foods; facilitating the purchase of foods of poor nutritional quality. Consideration of OFD’s in public health nutrition strategies and policies in critical.

Background Physical activity and sport have numerous health benefits and participation is thought to be lower in disadvantaged children and adolescents. However, evidence for the disparity in physical activity is inconsistent, has not been reviewed recently, and for sport has never been synthesised. Our aim was to systematically review, and combine via meta-analyses, evidence of the socioeconomic disparities in physical activity and sport participation in children and adolescents in high income countries. Methods We conducted searches of five electronic databases using physical activity, sport, and socioeconomic disparity related terms. Two independent reviewers assessed 21,342 articles for peer-reviewed original research, published in English that assessed socioeconomic disparities in physical activity and sport participation in children and adolescents. We combined evidence from eligible studies using a structural equation modelling approach to multilevel meta-analysis. Results From the 104 eligible studies, we meta-analysed 163 effect sizes. Overall, children and adolescents living in higher socioeconomic status households were more likely to participate in sport (OR: 1.87, 95% CIs 1.38, 2.36) and participated for a longer duration (d = 0.24, 95% CIs 0.12, 0.35). The socioeconomic disparity in the duration of sport participation was greater in children (d = 0.28, 95% CIs 0.15, 0.41) compared with adolescents (d = 0.13, 95% CIs − 0.03, 0.30). Overall, children and adolescents living in higher socioeconomic status households were more likely to meet physical activity guidelines (OR: 1.21, 95% CIs 1.09, 1.33) and participated for a longer duration (d = 0.08, 95% CIs 0.02, 0.14). The socioeconomic disparity in the duration of total physical activity between low and high socioeconomic status households was greater in children (d = 0.13, 95% CIs 0.04, 0.21) compared with adolescents (d = 0.05, 95% CIs − 0.05, 0.15). There was no significant disparity in leisure time physical activity (d = 0.13, 95% CIs − 0.06, 0.32). Conclusions There was evidence of socioeconomic disparities in sport participation and total physical activity participation among children and adolescents. Socioeconomic differences were greater in sport compared to total physical activity and greater in children compared with adolescents. These findings highlight the need importance of targeting sport programs according to socio-economic gradients, to reduce inequities in access and opportunity to organised sport.

BackgroundIncreasing health costs, demand and patient multimorbidity challenge the sustainability of healthcare systems. These challenges persist and have been amplified by the global pandemic.ObjectivesWe aimed to develop an understanding of how the sustainable performance of healthcare systems (SPHS) has been conceptualised, defined and measured.DesignScoping review of peer-reviewed articles and editorials published from database inception to February 2021.Data sourcesPubMed and Ovid Medline, and snowballing techniques.Eligibility criteriaWe included articles that discussed key focus concepts of SPHS: (1) definitions, (2) measurement, (3) identified challenges, (4) identified solutions for improvement and (5) scaling successful solutions to maintain SPHS.Data extraction and synthesisAfter title/abstract screening, full-text articles were reviewed, and relevant information extracted and synthesised under the five focus concepts.ResultsOf 142 included articles, 38 (27%) provided a definition of SPHS. Definitions were based mainly on financial sustainability, however, SPHS was also more broadly conceptualised and included acceptability to patients and workforce, resilience through adaptation, and rapid absorption of evidence and innovations. Measures of SPHS were also predominantly financial, but recent articles proposed composite measures that accounted for financial, social and health outcomes. Challenges to achieving SPHS included the increasingly complex patient populations, limited integration because of entrenched fragmented systems and siloed professional groups, and the ongoing translational gaps in evidence-to-practice and policy-to-practice. Improvement strategies for SPHS included developing appropriate workplace cultures, direct community and consumer involvement, and adoption of evidence-based practice and technologies. There was also a strong identified need for long-term monitoring and evaluations to support adaptation of healthcare systems and to anticipate changing needs where possible.ConclusionsTo implement lasting change and to respond to new challenges, we need context-relevant definitions and frameworks, and robust, flexible, and feasible measures to support the long-term sustainability and performance of healthcare systems.