Characteristics of the obesogenic environment around schools are associated with body fat and low-grade inflammation in Brazilian children

Filgueiras, Mariana De Santis; Pessoa, Milene Cristine; Bressan, Josefina; Vegi, Aline Siqueira Fogal; Carmo, Ariene Silva do; Albuquerque, Fernanda Martins de; Gardone, Danielle Soares; Novaes, Juliana Farias de

doi:10.1017/s1368980023001696

Cited by 5 publications

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References 43 publications

(57 reference statements)

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“…In Brazil, the prevalence of ultra-processed food sales in cafeterias and bars is significant [ 36 ]. Research conducted among Brazilian children and adolescents has revealed a positive correlation between patronizing such establishments and an increased consumption of ultra-processed foods [ 16 , 27 , 37 , 38 ]. Furthermore, investigations examining the food landscape surrounding schools in various countries have consistently shown that the available food options generally lack nutritional quality, thereby subjecting children and adolescents to an obesogenic environment [ 37 , 38 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food and Consumers’ Environment Inside and around Federal Public Schools in Bahia, Brazil

de França,

Zandonadi,

da Silva Santana

et al. 2024

Nutrients

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The food environment plays a crucial role in shaping people’s eating habits and, in and around schools, this influence becomes even more critical due to the time students spend daily in these spaces. This study aimed to analyze the food and consumer environments inside and around federal institutes in Bahia, Brazil. Ecological study and audit methodologies were combined, with all the 35 federal institutes in Bahia as the sample universe. To delimit the food environment around the school, the establishments were mapped in a 1000 m buffer, with the school as the centroid. The geographic coordinates of schools and food outlets were initially obtained using Google Maps and later confirmed on-site. The data were collected in WGS 84 and converted to UTM zone 23S SIRGAS 2000. To map the consumer environment, establishments found in a 250 m buffer and also canteens within schools were audited, using the ESAO-r instrument that considers the availability and prices of healthy and unhealthy foods; availability of nutritional information near the point of purchase or on the menu; and presence of internal marketing of healthy and unhealthy foods. The healthy meal–restaurant index (HMRI) was also measured. This index ranges from 0 to 8 points and positively scores items related to healthy consumption and fails to score those related to unhealthy consumption and behavior. The establishments were grouped into four categories (healthy, unhealthy, mixed, and supermarkets). The surrounding area with four or more unhealthy establishments within the 250 m buffer was considered a food swamp. Descriptive analyses were carried out with frequency measurements, measures of central tendency (mean and median), and dispersion (standard deviation). Around the analyzed schools, 732 food establishments were identified, 73.8% (n = 540) formal and 26.2% (n = 192) informal. Considering the characteristics of existing commerce, there was a predominance of snack bars (45%), grocery stores (23%), and bars (7.8%), with a smaller number of supermarkets identified (4.1%). School canteens were found in 20 schools analyzed and only 15% had a variety of healthy foods. When evaluating the availability of healthy foods, a median HMRI of 3 (1–7) was observed. When analyzing this index according to the type of establishment, it was found that fruit and vegetables presented higher values (HMRI = 7; P25–P75: 4–8) compared to large chain supermarkets (HMRI = 5; P25–P75: 2–6; p < 0.001) and local markets (HMRI = 4; P25–P75: 2–5; p < 0.001). From the analysis of the food and consumer environments, it was possible to make inferences about the quality of the food offered to students in these locations, as well as the potential health outcomes arising from this exposure and the need to carry out food education activities and nutritional activities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food and Consumers’ Environment Inside and around Federal Public Schools in Bahia, Brazil

de França,

Zandonadi,

da Silva Santana

et al. 2024

Nutrients

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“…The leptogenic environment was not associated with adiposity and related inflammation in children. This lack of association may be attributed to the urban environment of Viçosa, since leptogenic characteristics coexist with obesogenic ones in the downtown area ( 10 ) . Additionally, these outcomes are derived from a multi-complex model, involving not only the environment, but also family and individual-child factors ( 8 ) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As limitation, this investigation was carried out in a Brazilian medium-sized city, which is largely made up of a young population (university students), and justifies a greater concentration of activities and services in the downtown area and near to the university ( 10 ) . Therefore, extrapolation of these results should be cautious, and studies in different geographic locations are necessary to better understand the relationship between environmental characteristics and adiposity-related inflammation in children.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The assessment of environmental characteristics has been previously described ( 10 ) . Briefly, an objective assessment of the food stores and the public PA facilities in the city was performed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In all age groups, the relationship of obesogenic and leptogenic environments with low-grade inflammatory markers is poorly investigated. In Brazilian children, the higher density of public PA facilities around schools was associated with lower leptin concentrations ( 10 ) . In addition, obesogenic environmental factors, such as air pollution and exposure to ultra-processed foods (UPF), can promote endocrine dysfunction, impairing the differentiation and size of adipocytes and, consequently, stimulating the production of pro-inflammatory adipokines ( 11 ) .…”

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Obesogenic neighborhood environment is associated with body fat and low-grade inflammation in Brazilian children: could the mother’s BMI be a mediating factor?

Filgueiras,

Pessoa,

Bressan

et al. 2023

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: To evaluate the direct and indirect effects of obesogenic and leptogenic neighborhood environments on body fat, and pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokines in Brazilian children. Design: Cross-sectional study. The body fat distribution was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Concentrations of leptin and adiponectin were measured. Four hundred meters (0.25 miles) road network buffer was the neighborhood unit used to assess the environmental characteristics around households. Obesogenic and leptogenic environments were the latent variables obtained from the observed characteristics. The mother’s body mass index (BMI), ultra-processed food consumption, and physical activity before and after school, were tested as mediating variables. A hybrid model of structural equations was used to test the direct and indirect effects of obesogenic and leptogenic environments on body fat and leptin and adiponectin concentrations. Setting: Urban area of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil Participants: Children aged 8- and 9-years (n=367). Results: Obesogenic environment directly affected the mother’s BMI (β: 0.24, P=0.02) and the child’s body fat (β: 0.19, P=0.02). The mother’s BMI and body fat mediated the effect of the obesogenic environment on leptin concentrations (β: 0.05, P=0.02). Conclusions: Obesogenic neighborhood environment directly affects body fat and indirectly affects leptin concentrations in Brazilian children, mediated by the mother’s BMI and body fat.

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The adoption and implementation of local government planning regulations to manage hot food takeaways near schools in England: A qualitative process evaluation

Hassan,

Thompson,

Adams

et al. 2024

Preprint

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IntroductionAccess to hot food takeaways, particularly near schools, is of growing concern for policymakers seeking to reduce childhood obesity globally. In England, United Kingdom (UK), local government jurisdictions are implementing planning policies to reduce access by restricting or denying planning permission for new takeaway outlets near schools. We used a qualitative approach to explore local government officers’ perspectives on the barriers to and facilitators of the adoption, implementation, and perceived effectiveness of these policies.MethodsIn 2021-2022, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 local planning (‘planners’) and public health government officers from 15 different local authorities across England who adopted a policy to restrict new takeaways. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsParticipants explained that they mostly thought the policies facilitated the refusal of applications for new takeaways near schools. However, participants speculated that businesses identified alternative opportunities to operate including functioning as ‘restaurants’ or within other locations. Effective working relationships between planners and public health officers were important for adoption and implementation, although planning and public health agendas did not always align and there were tensions between economic development and health improvement goals. The policy was adapted to suit local needs and priorities; in some cases, the policy was not used in areas where economic growth was prioritised. Clarity in policy wording and establishing a formal process for implementing policies including a designated individual responsible for checking and reviewing takeaway applications helped ensure consistency and confidence in policy implementation.ConclusionAlthough sometimes challenging, the policies were commonly described as feasible to implement. However, they may not completely prevent new takeaways opening, particularly where takeaways are relied upon to enhance local economies or where takeaway businesses find alternative ways to operate. Nevertheless, the policies can serve to shift the balance of power that currently favours commercial interests over public health priorities.HighlightsPlanning and public health officers struggled to align economic and health agendasPolicy champions helped align agendas and push takeaway management policies forwardPolicies were adapted to avoid use where they negatively impacted economic growthEstablished processes and clearly worded policies facilitated policy implementationThe polices made it easier to deny planning permission for new takeaways

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Characteristics of the obesogenic environment around schools are associated with body fat and low-grade inflammation in Brazilian children

Cited by 5 publications

References 43 publications

Food and Consumers’ Environment Inside and around Federal Public Schools in Bahia, Brazil

Food and Consumers’ Environment Inside and around Federal Public Schools in Bahia, Brazil

Obesogenic neighborhood environment is associated with body fat and low-grade inflammation in Brazilian children: could the mother’s BMI be a mediating factor?

The adoption and implementation of local government planning regulations to manage hot food takeaways near schools in England: A qualitative process evaluation

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