Publically Funded Recreation Facilities: Obesogenic Environments for Children and Families?

Abstract

Increasing healthy food options in public venues, including recreational facilities, is a health priority. The purpose of this study was to describe the public recreation food environment in British Columbia, Canada using a sequential explanatory mixed methods design. Facility audits assessed policy, programs, vending, concessions, fundraising, staff meetings and events. Focus groups addressed context and issues related to action. Eighty-eighty percent of facilities had no policy governing food sold or provided for children/youth programs. Sixty-eight percent of vending snacks were chocolate bars and chips while 57% of beverages were sugar sweetened. User group fundraisers held at the recreation facilities also sold ‘unhealthy’ foods. Forty-two percent of recreation facilities reported providing user-pay programs that educated the public about healthy eating. Contracts, economics, lack of resources and knowledge and motivation of staff and patrons were barriers to change. Recreation food environments were obesogenic but stakeholders were interested in change. Technical support, resources and education are needed.

The Food Environment of Youth Baseball

“…Establishing policies regarding foods available at sporting events is a promising public health step, because it appears few have established policies. 31 Because 52% of outdoor sports facilities are community owned and operated, 4 engaging parents and sports leagues to conduct family-based interventions may be feasible ways to improve activity and nutrition behaviors at the community level.…”

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

“…[4][5][6][7] However, despite their health mandate, 8,9 many have unhealthy food environments that may paradoxically increase children's obesity risk. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Some recreation stakeholders are willing to improve the quality of their food environments; however, barriers, including the provisions of foodservice contracts, fears of reduced profitability, and lack of resources and knowledge, limit their opportunities for change. 11,12,15,17 To improve the quality of community food environments, the provincial government of British Columbia (BC), Canada, developed nutrition guidelines for food sales in public buildings, including recreation and sports facilities.…”

Exploring industry perspectives on implementation of a provincial policy for food and beverage sales in publicly funded recreation facilities

“…A survey and needs assessment conducted in British Columbia (BC) in 2006, confirmed that these food environments did not enable healthy choices for families and children but that recreation stakeholders were interested in change [13]. Shortly afterwards, the Nutrition Guidelines for Vending Machines in BC Public Buildings were developed to help govern food and beverages sold in local government buildings, including recreation and sport facilities [14].…”