2021 Articles

Gaps and priorities in assessment of food environments for children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries

Carducci, Bianca; Oh, Christina; Roth, Daniel E.; Neufeld, Lynnette M.; Frongillo, Edward A.; L’Abbe, Mary R.; Fanzo, Jessica C.; Herforth, Anna; Sellen, Daniel W.; Bhutta, Zulfiqar A.

School-aged children and adolescents have complex interactions with their food environments—the point of engagement of individuals with the food system—and are influenced by a diversity of individual, household and organizational factors. Although a wide range of methods have been proposed to define, monitor and evaluate food environments, few are tailored to school-aged children and adolescents. Here, we interrogate published literature on food metrics and methodologies for the characterization of food environments for school-aged children and adolescents living in low- and middle-income counties. We identify key priority actions and potential indicators for better monitoring and evaluation to galvanize policymaking to improve the healthiness of these interactions, which are so crucial to future adult well-being.