How can GPS technology help us better understand exposure to the food environment? A systematic review

Abstract

PurposeGlobal 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.MethodsBased 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.ResultsSix 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.ConclusionsThe 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.

Obesogenic environments: current evidence of the built and food environments

“…For example one study suggested that modelling underestimated walking route length by 21%, but over-estimated food outlet exposure by 25% 78 . A systematic review of GPS technology (six studiesfive from US and one in the UK) found that while use of technology was in its infancy, being able to record and analyse patterns of mobility, is of huge value 79 . However, two issues are apparent.…”

Modeling a bivariate residential‐workplace neighborhood effect when estimating the effect of proximity to fast‐food establishments on body mass index

“…In contrast, based on our findings in this study, workplace proximity to fast‐food establishments might matter more for the BMI of males. More research needs to be done to confirm these conclusions, including using better measures of food establishment exposure, perhaps through use of mobile devices …”

“…More research needs to be done to confirm these conclusions, including using better measures of food establishment exposure, perhaps through use of mobile devices. 36 It may appear surprising that the correlation between the neighborhood random effects on residents and workers of the same neighborhood should be 0 (or negative). We conjecture that this reflects a reliance on distinct fast-food outlets or the same outlets at different times by residents and employees of the same neighborhood.…”

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