shiftframework.org

Assessing Support for Advantaged and Disadvantaged Groups: A Comparison of Urban Food Environments

Equity Focus

This study targets a measurement tool that captures aspects of healthy eating support in restaurants and grocery/convenience shops and was specifically applied to high and low social status suburbs in Brisbane, Australia.

Case Summary

An established measurement tool (the NEMS—Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey), that captures aspects of support for healthy eating within restaurants (NEMS-R) and grocery/convenience stores (NEMS-S), was applied to both a high-SES and a low-SES suburb within Brisbane, Australia. The study found a significantly more supportive restaurant food environment in the high-SES suburb, with greater access to and availability of healthful foods, as well as facilitators for, reduced barriers to, and substantially more nutrition information for healthful eating. A higher number of outlets were found in the high-SES suburb, and later opening times were also observed. Overall, the results from stores (NEMS-S) suggest poor support for healthful eating across both suburbs.

Lessons Learned

• The project highlights how food environments in low-SES regions continue to be less supportive of healthful eating. Public health strategies must move beyond individual-focused strategies to ensure that our most disadvantaged, low-SES communities have an equal opportunity to access
  healthful foods.

LINK TO CASE STUDY