How can GPS technology help us better understand exposure to the food environment: a systematic review
File(s)
Published version
Accepted version
Author(s)
Cetateanu, A
Jones, AP
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Purpose: Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are increasingly
being used to objectively assess movement patterns of people related to
health behaviours. However research detailing their application to the
food environment is scarce. This systematic review examines the
application of GPS in studies of exposure to food environments and their
potential influences on health.
Methods: Based on an initial scoping exercise, published articles to be
included in the systematic review were identified from four electronic
databases and reference lists and were appraised and analysed, the final
cut-off date for inclusion being January 2015. Included studies used GPS
to identify location of individuals in relation to food outlets and link
that to health or diet outcomes. They were appraised against a set of
quality criteria.
Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria, which were appraised to
be of moderate quality. Newer studies had a higher quality score.
Associations between observed mobility patterns in the food environment
and diet related outcomes were equivocal. Findings agreed that
traditional food exposure measures overestimate the importance of the
home food environment.
Conclusions: The use of GPS to measure exposure to the food environment
is still in its infancy yet holds much potential. There are considerable
variations and challenges in developing and standardising the methods
used to assess exposure.
being used to objectively assess movement patterns of people related to
health behaviours. However research detailing their application to the
food environment is scarce. This systematic review examines the
application of GPS in studies of exposure to food environments and their
potential influences on health.
Methods: Based on an initial scoping exercise, published articles to be
included in the systematic review were identified from four electronic
databases and reference lists and were appraised and analysed, the final
cut-off date for inclusion being January 2015. Included studies used GPS
to identify location of individuals in relation to food outlets and link
that to health or diet outcomes. They were appraised against a set of
quality criteria.
Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria, which were appraised to
be of moderate quality. Newer studies had a higher quality score.
Associations between observed mobility patterns in the food environment
and diet related outcomes were equivocal. Findings agreed that
traditional food exposure measures overestimate the importance of the
home food environment.
Conclusions: The use of GPS to measure exposure to the food environment
is still in its infancy yet holds much potential. There are considerable
variations and challenges in developing and standardising the methods
used to assess exposure.
Date Issued
2016-04-18
Date Acceptance
2016-04-07
Citation
SSM- Population Health, 2016, 2, pp.196-205
ISSN
2352-8273
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
196
End Page
205
Journal / Book Title
SSM- Population Health
Volume
2
Copyright Statement
© 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Publication Status
Published