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Residential and School Food Swamps and Overweight in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Urban Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • Ingrid Werneck Linhares

    (Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Child and Adolescent Health, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Brazil)

  • Paula Martins Horta

    (Department of Nutrition, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Brazil)

  • Ariene Silva do Carmo

    (Department of Public Health, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Brazil)

  • Luana Lara Rocha

    (Department of Public Health, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Brazil)

  • Mariana Zogbi Jardim

    (Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Child and Adolescent Health, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Brazil)

  • Olivia Souza Honório

    (School of Nutrition, Centro Universitário Governador Ozanam Coelho, Ubá 36506-022, Brazil)

  • Larissa Loures Mendes

    (Department of Nutrition, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Brazil)

Abstract

The community food environment, which encompasses residential and school neighborhoods, is an important determinant of overweight in children and adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the co-occurrence of food swamps in residential and school environments and overweight status. This cross-sectional study included 2601 children and adolescents (aged 5–14 years) from 47 schools in a medium-sized municipality in Brazil. The outcome was overweight status, defined as body mass index for age exceeding the mean by at least one z-score. Food swamps in residential and school surroundings were defined as buffers of 250 m with four or more establishments selling ultra-processed foods. The prevalence of being overweight was 30.4%. Food swamps were present in 22.5% and 22% of the residential and school areas, respectively, and 16.2% of the participants were exposed to food swamps in both residential and school environments. Children and adolescents simultaneously exposed to food swamps in both residential and school areas had a higher likelihood of being overweight (odds ratio: 1.22; 95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.45). The simultaneous presence of food swamps in residential and school environments is associated with overweight in children and adolescents.

Suggested Citation

  • Ingrid Werneck Linhares & Paula Martins Horta & Ariene Silva do Carmo & Luana Lara Rocha & Mariana Zogbi Jardim & Olivia Souza Honório & Larissa Loures Mendes, 2025. "Residential and School Food Swamps and Overweight in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Urban Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(8), pages 1-9, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:8:p:1240-:d:1720345
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