Exploring the influence of local food environments on food behaviours: a systematic review of qualitative literature
2017
Objective: Systematic reviews investigating associations between objective
measures of the food environment and dietary behaviours or health outcomes
have not established a consistent evidence base. The present paper aims to
synthesise qualitative evidence regarding the influence of local food environments
on food and purchasing behaviours.
Design: A systematic review in the form of a qualitative thematic synthesis.
Setting: Urban localities.
Subjects: Adults.
Results: Four analytic themes were identified from the review including
community and consumer nutrition environments, other environmental factors
and individual coping strategies for shopping and purchasing decisions.
Availability, accessibility and affordability were consistently identified as key
determinants of store choice and purchasing behaviours that often result in less
healthy food choices within community nutrition environments. Food availability,
quality and food store characteristics within consumer nutrition environments also
greatly influenced in-store purchases. Individuals used a range of coping strategies
in both the community and consumer nutrition environments to make optimal
purchasing decisions, often within the context of financial constraints.
Conclusions: Findings from the current review add depth and scope to quantitative
literature and can guide ongoing theory, interventions and policy development in
food environment research. There is a need to investigate contextual influences
within food environments as well as individual and household socio-economic
characteristics that contribute to the differing use of and views towards local food
environments. Greater emphasis on how individual and environmental factors interact
in the food environment field will be key to developing stronger understanding of
how environments can support and promote healthier food choices
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