A systematic review of existing observational tools to measure the food and physical activity environment in schools

Hannah G Lane; Hannah G Calvert; Rachel Deitch; Ryan Harris; Oyinlola T Babatunde; Lindsey Turner; Erin R Hager; Stephanie Jilcott Pitts

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102388

A systematic review of existing observational tools to measure the food and physical activity environment in schools

Health Place. 2020 Nov:66:102388. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102388. Epub 2020 Sep 6.

Authors

Hannah G Lane¹, Hannah G Calvert², Rachel Deitch³, Ryan Harris⁴, Oyinlola T Babatunde⁵, Lindsey Turner⁶, Erin R Hager⁷, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts⁸

Affiliations

¹ Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences, Durham, 27701, NC, USA. Electronic address: hannah.lane@duke.edu.
² Boise State University, College of Education, Boise, ID, USA. Electronic address: hannahcalvert898@boisestate.edu.
³ University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Growth and Nutrition(a), Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. Electronic address: rdeitch@som.umaryland.edu.
⁴ University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA. Electronic address: rharr103@uncc.edu.
⁵ East Carolina University, Department of Nutrition Science, College of Allied Health Sciences, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA. Electronic address: babatundeo@ecu.edu.
⁶ Boise State University, College of Education, Boise, ID, USA. Electronic address: lindseyturner1@boisestate.edu.
⁷ University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Growth and Nutrition(a), Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. Electronic address: ehager@som.umaryland.edu.
⁸ East Carolina University, Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA. Electronic address: jilcotts@ecu.edu.

Abstract

Objective measures of schools' wellness-promoting environments are commonly used in obesity prevention studies; however, the extent to which findings from these measures translate to policy and practice is unknown. This systematic review describes the comprehensiveness and usability (practicality, quality, and applicability) of existing objective measures to assess schools' food and physical activity environments. A structured keyword search and standard protocol in electronic databases yielded 30 publications reporting on 23 measures that were deemed eligible to include in this review. Findings provide details to guide researchers and practitioners in selecting the best tool for use in policy and program evaluations.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Environment
Exercise*
Food
Humans
Obesity / prevention & control
Schools*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding