Policy outcomes of applying different nutrient profiling systems in recreational sports settings: the case for national harmonization in Canada

Abstract

Objective: To assess agreement among three nutrient profiling systems used to evaluate the healthfulness of vending machine products in recreation and sport settings in three Canadian provinces. We also assessed whether the nutritional profile of vending machine items in recreation and sport facilities that were adhering to nutrition guidelines (implementers) was superior to that of facilities that were not (non-implementers). Design: Trained research assistants audited the contents of vending machines. Three provincial nutrient profiling systems were used to classify items into each province's most, moderately and least healthy categories. Agreement among systems was assessed using weighted κ statistics. ANOVA assessed whether the average nutritional profile of vending machine items differed according to province and guideline implementation status. Setting: Eighteen recreation and sport facilities in three Canadian provinces. Onehalf of facilities were implementing nutrition guidelines. Subjects: Snacks (n 531) and beverages (n 618) within thirty-six vending machines were audited. Results: Overall, the systems agreed that the majority of items belonged within their respective least healthy categories (66-69 %) and that few belonged within their most healthy categories (14-22 %). Agreement among profiling systems was moderate to good, with κ w values ranging from 0·49 to 0·69. Implementers offered fewer of the least healthy items (P < 0·05) and these items had a better nutritional profile compared with items in non-implementing facilities. Conclusions: The policy outcomes of the three systems are likely to be similar, suggesting there may be scope to harmonize nutrient profiling systems at a national level to avoid unnecessary duplication and support food reformulation by industry.

An Intervention To Enhance the Food Environment in Public Recreation and Sport Settings: A Natural Experiment in British Columbia, Canada

“…12 The proportion of unhealthy vending items in recreational facilities that claimed to be adhering to nutrition guidelines in another study was similar (at 59%). 30 The modest changes observed in vending product mix may be related to study timelines, which were reportedly too short to get policies approved or fully enact them by renegotiating vending contracts. Thus, some of the potential positive impacts of the HFBS initiative on the food environment may have gone unrealized.…”

Examining the nutritional quality of food and beverage consumed at Melbourne aquatic and recreation centres

“…A recent Canadian study evaluating healthy options in vending machines found that recreation centres implementing nutrition guidelines had fewer of the 'least healthy' foods compared to centres with no guidelines. 10 A limitation of our study was the small number of centres surveyed. Although the precise results are not representative of the broader population attending these centres, it is likely that the overall consumption patterns are similar across all aquatic and recreation centres.…”

“…One such measure is restricting unhealthy food retail in environments where children gather, 9 such as schools, preschool and places of recreation. A recent Canadian study evaluating healthy options in vending machines found that recreation centres implementing nutrition guidelines had fewer of the ‘least healthy’ foods compared to centres with no guidelines 10 …”

Leptogenicity of the Food Environment and Food Choice Behaviour in Leisure Centres

“…Research in this field takes place on an international platform, illustrating its global impact. The majority of research to date has taken place in Canada (Naylor et al, 2010b;Olstad et al, 2015b;Olstad et al, 2015c;Olstad, Raine and McCargar, 2012;Olstad et al, 2011a;Olstad et al, 2011b;Thomas and Irwin, 2010;Danylchuk and MacIntosh, 2009;Naylor et al, 2010b), and Australia and New Zealand (Kelly et al, 2010;Carter et al, 2013;Lloyd and Dumbrell, 2011;Dobbinson, Hayman and Livingston, 2006;Kelly et al, 2008;Kelly, Bauman and Baur, 2014;Kelly et al, 2012). Literature in this area has been published in recent years, demonstrating that this research addresses a contemporary issue (e.g.…”

“…Literature in this area has been published in recent years, demonstrating that this research addresses a contemporary issue (e.g. Olstad et al, 2014;Kelly, Bauman and Baur, 2014;Kelly et al, 2014;Olstad et al, 2015a;Olstad et al, 2015b;Olstad et al, 2015c). However there is a paucity of research available in the UK (Nowak, Jeanes and Reeves, 2012), highlighting the pertinence of further research in the UK.…”