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Availability of Limited Service Food Outlets Surrounding Schools in British Columbia

  • Quantitative Research
  • Published:
Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive profile of the availability of limited service food outlets surrounding public schools in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods

Data from the 2010 Canadian Business Data Files were used to identify limited service food outlets including fast food outlets, beverage and snack food stores, delis and convenience stores. The number of food outlets within 800 metres of 1,392 public schools and the distance from schools to the nearest food outlets were assessed. Multivariate regression models examined the associations between food outlet availability and school-level characteristics.

Results

In 2010, over half of the public schools in BC (54%) were located within a 10–12 minute walk from at least one limited service food outlet. The median closest distance to a food outlet was just over 1 km (1016 m). Schools comprised of students living in densely populated urban neighbourhoods and neighbourhoods characterized by lower socio-economic status were more likely to have access to limited service food outlets within walking distance. After adjusting for school-level median family income and population density, larger schools had higher odds of exposure to food vendors compared to schools with fewer students.

Conclusion

The availability of and proximity to limited service food outlets vary widely across schools in British Columbia and school-level characteristics are significantly associated with food outlet availability. Additional research is needed to understand how food environment exposures inside and surrounding schools impact students’ attitudes, food choices and dietary quality.

Résumé

Objectif

Notre étude vise à dresser un profil descriptif de la présence des débits de restauration à services limités autour des écoles publiques en Colombie-Britannique (Canada).

Méthode

À l’aide de données sur les entreprises canadiennes (fichiers Canadian Business Data 2010), nous avons identifié les débits de restauration à services limités: restaurants rapides, magasins de boissons et de grignotines, charcuteries et dépanneurs. Nous avons calculé le nombre de débits de restauration à 800 mètres des 1 392 écoles publiques et la distance entre les écoles et les débits de restauration les plus proches. En utilisant des modèles de régression multivariée, nous avons étudié les associations entre la présence de débits de restauration et les caractéristiques au niveau des écoles.

Résultats

En 2010, plus de la moitié des écoles publiques de la C.-B. (54 %) étaient situées à 10 ou 12 minutes de marche d’au moins un débit de restauration à services limités. La distance médiane la plus proche d’un débit de restauration était d’un peu plus de 1 km (1 016 m). Les écoles dont les élèves habitaient des quartiers urbains densément peuplés et des quartiers à faible statut socioéconomique étaient plus susceptibles d’avoir accès à des débits de restauration à services limités à distance de marche. Après avoir apporté des ajustements en fonction du revenu familial médian et de la densité de population au niveau des écoles, nous avons constaté que la probabilité d’exposition aux commerces d’alimentation était plus élevée pour les grandes écoles que pour les écoles ayant peu d’élèves.

Conclusion

La présence et la proximité de débits de restauration à services limités varient beaucoup d’une école à l’autre en Colombie-Britannique, et les caractéristiques au niveau des écoles présentent une corrélation significative avec la présence de débits de restauration. Il faudrait pousser la recherche pour comprendre en quoi l’environnement alimentaire à l’intérieur et autour de l’école a une incidence sur les attitudes, les choix alimentaires et la qualité du régime des élèves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food, Nutrition and Health, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Jennifer L. Black PhD, RD

  2. Population and Public Health, BC Ministry of Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Meghan Day MA, RD

Authors
  1. Jennifer L. Black PhD, RD
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  2. Meghan Day MA, RD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer L. Black PhD, RD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements/Funding Sources: Funding for this project came from the British Columbia Ministry of Health. Sincere thanks to Natalie Work and the BC Ministries of Citizens’ Services and Education for providing school-level data and geographic coordinates. Stuart Fleming also provided valuable GIS assistance.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Black, J.L., Day, M. Availability of Limited Service Food Outlets Surrounding Schools in British Columbia. Can J Public Health 103, e255–e259 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404230

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404230

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