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Adolescents’ School Travel and Unhealthy Snacking: Associations with School Transport Modes, Neighbourhood Deprivation, and Body Weight

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  • Margaretha L. Situmorang

    (Department of Medicine, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
    Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand)

  • Kirsten J. Coppell

    (Department of Medicine, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand)

  • Melody Smith

    (School of Nursing, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand)

  • Michael Keall

    (Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand)

  • Sandra Mandic

    (Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
    Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
    AGILE Research Ltd., Wellington 6012, New Zealand)

Abstract

Active transport to and/or from school (ATS), alone or combined with motorised transport, provides an opportunity to increase adolescents’ physical activity levels to prevent obesity. However, travel through and exposure to an unhealthy food environment en route to school may have unintended consequences, specifically unhealthy snacking. This study examined the association between adolescents’ unhealthy snack food/soft drink purchases/consumption during the journey to and from school and their school transport modes, neighbourhood deprivation, and body weight. Adolescents (n = 660, age: 15.3 ± 1.3 years, 51.7% female) from 11 schools in the Otago region, New Zealand, completed an online survey and anthropometry. Data were analysed using χ 2 test and logistic regression. Overall, 36.7% of adolescents purchased/consumed unhealthy snack foods and 25.9% purchased/consumed soft drinks at least once during their weekly school trips. ATS and mixed transport users reported more frequent unhealthy snack food/soft drinks purchases/consumption on the way to school than motorised transport users. Neighbourhood deprivation, but not body weight, was positively associated with unhealthy snack food/soft drink purchases/consumption during the school journey. Our findings highlight the importance of considering not only travel mode shift but also the obesogenic environment and unhealthy food/drinks purchases/consumption during adolescents’ school journeys, particularly in lower socio-economic areas, to prevent obesity.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaretha L. Situmorang & Kirsten J. Coppell & Melody Smith & Michael Keall & Sandra Mandic, 2022. "Adolescents’ School Travel and Unhealthy Snacking: Associations with School Transport Modes, Neighbourhood Deprivation, and Body Weight," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:12:p:7038-:d:834294
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anja Mizdrak & Tony Blakely & Christine L Cleghorn & Linda J Cobiac, 2019. "Potential of active transport to improve health, reduce healthcare costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions: A modelling study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Stefanie Vandevijvere & Janine Molloy & Naadira Hassen de Medeiros & Boyd Swinburn, 2018. "Unhealthy food marketing around New Zealand schools: a national study," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(9), pages 1099-1107, December.
    3. Salmond, Clare & Crampton, Peter & King, Peter & Waldegrave, Charles, 2006. "NZiDep: A New Zealand index of socioeconomic deprivation for individuals," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(6), pages 1474-1485, March.
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    1. Evelyn Martin-Moraleda & Sandy Mandic & Ana Queralt & Cristina Romero-Blanco & Susana Aznar, 2022. "Associations among Active Commuting to School and Prevalence of Obesity in Adolescents: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-13, August.

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