Are Schools Spatially Associated with Food Outlets Selling Ultra-processed Foods? – An ecological study

Are Schools Spatially Associated with Food Outlets Selling Ultra-processed Foods? – An ecological study

Children--Nutrition--Brazil

Mayra Figueiredo Barata, Maria Alvim Leite, Maria F. Gombi-Vaca, José Leopoldo Ferreira Antunes, Renata Bertazzi Levy

Food Security

Vol. 17

2025

Springer Netherlands (Dordrecht)

Journal article

English

18764525

Brazil

Restricted Access

Unhealthy concentrations of food outlets near schools are a growing public health concern, as they may negatively influence the dietary habits and overall health of children and adolescents attending these institutions. This study investigates the spatial association between schools and food outlets selling ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in five Brazilian capital cities. Schools and ten types of UPF-selling outlets were georeferenced within neighborhoods across these cities. Density measures of schools and stores per 10,000 inhabitants were calculated for each neighborhood. Associations between school and food outlets densities were analyzed using negative binomial regression models for each city, as well as a multilevel negative binomial regression model for all cities combined. The results revealed that the densities of snack bars, bakeries, mini-markets, restaurants, and the total number of UPF-selling establishments were positively associated with school densities across all cities and collectively. This suggests that children and adolescents may be exposed to unhealthy food environments around their schools, emphasizing the need for targeted public health interventions.

Haley Lesemann